Deconstructing Wenger’s trophy prediction and press reaction

Wenger says Arsenal are ready this year to compete for titles. Well, technically, he said the following:

I know that we haven’t won a trophy for four years, but we have been very close and I believe that this year the team will do it. When I say that, it is not to please you, it is because I am really convinced of it. This season we are ready to go for it in the Premier League, the Champions League and of course both the cups as well.”

This is something he has said before – two years ago – as well. Every manager at this level believes at the start of the season that his team will achieve the highest level of goals set for them. That’s how it works – if you start the season thinking you’ll end up fourth, you’re not going to get very far.

So while Arsenal (and everyone else) start the season with the highest of expectations, it’s only two months into the season that you get a fair idea of where you will be going into Christmas and beyond. If Arsenal had started poorly, would we have heard more of the ‘work in progress’ speech?

So it’s not much of a statement anyway and has no end purpose (despite Wenger’s protestations) other than pacifying the shareholders and fans who have been riled up by journalists and former players constantly harping on about Arsenal’s lack of trophies in the last 4 years (it’s just been 4 years, good lord, why don’t you lot go back to your Playstations and leave football to us).

But don’t let that stop the press from plastering you with Wenger’s photo, in the week of his 60th birthday, attached to his ‘prediction’ as well as BS comments from past players who have achieved far less than Arsene. All of this (and more insane hyping up) in an effort to have another Arsenal sacrifice when the team trips up. Which it will – because, as Arsenal says, the league is going to be very tight and every team will drop points.

Good thing the fans are keeping their feet on the ground, right?

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