Allardyce: “Wenger Lost His Way”

Sam Allardyce has let his mind be known in an interview with the Daily Express, commenting on everything from his shot at the England role to why Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have struggled to mount a serious title challenge in recent years. Despite Allardyce not really being qualified to give his opinion on a manager that’s actually won something, we’re going to have a look at his comments and see how much truth they have to them.

Despite the lack of trophies from his own career, does Allardyce have a point about Wenger’s reign?

Allardyce told the Daily Express: “Arsene Wenger’s change of culture at Arsenal was a major success. Getting players like Ian Wright and Tony Adams to change their way of thinking, coupled with his buying policy, was amazing.

“His first five years were amazing. But I don’t know what happened to him after that.

“He seemed to change his whole ethos – I don’t know if it was because he had the new stadium to pay for, you will have to ask him.

“It became all about smaller, pretty footballer than it did about the big hard talented footballers who won the ball and won him the key games.

“Never mind being able to play, they could mix it, too. He was challenging Manchester United on a regular basis and went a whole season without being beaten. They were fantastic.

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“Then all of a sudden this change of culture happened where every midfielder seemed to be 5ft 8in and they lost that steel.”

So, in the least surprising comments ever, Allardyce doesn’t think that Arsenal are physical enough anymore. But I do think he has a point. Even as far as our injury problems go it’s a possibility, because I think we’ve lost the ability to look like a physical team and people look to impose themselves on us.

When we went an entire season unbeaten we had a great mix of talented football players and strong enforcers which allowed us to win games in so many different ways. Even when you look at the more attacking players like Bergkamp he was extremely physical and made his presence felt by everyone defending in the opposing team.

We no longer have defenders or a midfield general willing to get their hand’s dirty and I do think it’s impacting on our chances for a title going forwards. What do you think? Does Wenger need to change?

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