***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I genuinely feel bad for Koscielny. You guys have really wrapped him up in cotton wool for several months now. He's rarely featured in the PL, you have been saving him for the Europa League and now this happens. A massive loss for you and for France. France lost Varane for Euro 2016 do to injury and now Kosc for the WC, very unlucky. Get well soon, just an awful injury to come back from!

As sad as it sounds, I think it was inevitable. If it didn't happen last night, it would've happened at the World Cup.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I genuinely feel bad for Koscielny. You guys have really wrapped him up in cotton wool for several months now. He's rarely featured in the PL, you have been saving him for the Europa League and now this happens. A massive loss for you and for France. France lost Varane for Euro 2016 do to injury and now Kosc for the WC, very unlucky. Get well soon, just an awful injury to come back from!

Honestly I'm unspeakably sad about this. Kos has arguably been through it all since joining the club in 2010, partnering with Squillaci, Djourou, and others. He scored the winner at Newcastle in 2013, his partnership with Per Mertesacker was better than most gave it credit for. He's never complained and often played well when left on an island as a defender. He's even added some excellent runs from the back as we saw earlier in the season that aren't just for headers in the box. Kos was one of those quiet favorite players, and it's heartbreaking that after trying to take such good care of him, that his body betrays him like this.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

That was a fun game. Props to Burnley for not even trying to play spoiler.

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[stlducks]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

That was a fun game. Props to Burnley for not even trying to play spoiler.

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I received about 8 texts from an Arsenal friend during the match. Most we're "why the f do we not play like this when it matters?!" First time I've seen a team win big and a fan upset about it.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I mean inconsistency is what they are mad at, not the win.

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[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

The squad has played well for years when the pressure is off. I know, you could say there was lots of pressure today, but not compared to the pressure of a knockout competition, or battling a league rival, etc.

As for the result...couldn't ask for a better scoreline for Arsene's final home game. I could barely make it through his speech, though—way too many onions being cut.

[stevostl]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Merci Arsene

will always be a legend... helped make the Premier League what is today

[ZeroTheHero]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I actually got goosebumps when they handed Wenger the 2004 "Invincibles" trophy. After all those years of being annoyed by him, I'm going to miss him. I'm actually still convinced that he has a few more tricks up his sleeves and that it is a big mistake by Arsenal to let him go.

They might as well hire Glyn Hodges because the first guy to try his luck after Wenger is doomed to fail anyway, so it might as well be someone you really don't want anyway. And who knows, maybe he's a genius after all :P

Goodbye Wenger. Good luck in (hopefully) PSG.

[JHedges2]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

What an absolutely perfect day.

Such enjoyable football to watch when they play up to their potential. Miki is an outstanding player going forward. I am really excited to have him for a full season next year. So dangerous--with both feet.

I've only been a fan for 4 seasons, and have been ready for Arsene to leave. But I am bittersweet about his departure for sure. I wish him all the best, and cannot wait to hear who the replacement will be...

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

A nice farewell to the BFG today as well.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I'm actually still convinced that he has a few more tricks up his sleeves and that it is a big mistake by Arsenal to let him go.

I don't see any rationality in this at all, and the problem with claims such as these is they're almost win-win in their nature. If whoever replaces him finishes with fewer points, advances less in cup competitions, etc. people will be saying how wrong the club was to let him go. If whoever replaces him finishes in a higher position and Arsene goes on to win something at another club everyone will say it was still wrong to let him go.

The mistake was not seeing him out the door after one of the last two FA Cup wins, specifically in 2017 as his contract was set to finish.

He certainly does have a few more tricks up his sleeve, but not with this squad. How anyone can watch this squad play for the last few years and expect Arsene to get anything out of them, try anything new, or motivate them to win a competition is beyond me. Perhaps the reason is those who hold those opinions are not actually watching the team play.

Just because Arsenal might do worse off without Arsene for a few years is no reason to keep him on longer, because the dip is inevitable. You can't wait for transition and evolution due to being afraid of them, as eventually, you must face them.

Arsene had his chance to do something with this squad, and that was this season. He was given a chance to return to the Champions League and he and the squad failed. We can't replace the entire squad, and the only constant through these past seasons has been Arsene—the change that must take place is obvious.

[ZeroTheHero]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I've claimed that long before his departure was announced.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I've claimed that long before his departure was announced.

I know, and it made just as little sense to me then as it does now. I've seen zero evidence in the past several years that Arsene could achieve anything else other than another domestic cup run with Arsenal.

The 15/16 season will forever be a reminder to me that it was time for it to end. Arsenal should've won the league that year—it was Arsene's chance to do what I believe he wanted to do before he left more than a European trophy—one last league title for the club. I say he wanted it more mostly due to it being far more probable.

We've seen all his tricks, all his tactics, and all his gambles at Arsenal. Does he have more left in him? Perhaps somewhere else, but him staying another season would still see the defense in shambles and honestly, and even more players showing that they were done playing for him, no matter how right or wrong that is.

Anyone who thinks now is not the time for him to leave is right—the time was last year, or even before, but definitely not in the future. Sentimentality can not come before the club, and Arsene knows that better than anyone as he has a past of being ruthless when letting older players leave the club. Well, the same has now been done with him. I'll miss him dearly, but I'd rather miss him due to not being around than resent him for continuing to stay.

[ZeroTheHero]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

We got different views because I'm a realist and you're an idealist.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

forget what i said before

holy ****

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/993513458531520514