Arsenal FC: Why Arsene Wenger Is Still the Right Man for the Job

Arsenal’s unconvincing 3-1 defeat of Shrewsbury Town in yesterday’s Carling Cup fixture is not enough to take the sting out of Blackburn’s 4-3 victory over them last weekend.

Arsene Wenger’s position as Arsenal boss has been subject of media interest for several years now. After simmering away in the crucible that is the football circus for several seasons, the sales of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas have catalysed a new wave of frustration and criticism being vented towards the Frenchman.

The deadline day signings of Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta have done little to neutralise the reaction and for the first time Ivan Gazidis has had to publicly say he has no intentions of sacking the long serving manager.

The Arsenal Chief Executive told BBC Sport: "Arsene Wenger is not broken. To see him portrayed as an idiot is damaging—not to him or the club but to the game.

"[Sacking him] is a route we are not going to go down."

Gazidis added: "He didn't suddenly become a bad manager or out of touch. That's nonsense."

Less than 24 hours later Wenger declared his ambition to stay at Arsenal for another 14 years, a spell that would trump Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Manchester United, were he to retire in the next two seasons.

In the post-match interviews against Shrewsbury, Wenger commented: "I have had 14 years at this club and kept them 14 years in the Champions League. I hope it lasts another 14."

This slideshow will argue in defence of Arsene Wenger and explain why the Arsenal board should stick with the Frenchman, for now.

If Arsene Wenger was to leave the Gunners tomorrow, the fact of the matter is that there is a lack of managerial candidates who could replace him immediately.

Louis Van Gaal is perhaps the stand out candidate of managers who are unemployed, and his managerial trophy cabinet is more impressive than Wenger’s.

The Dutchman has won three European Cups/Champions' League titles alongside nine domestic league titles including La Liga, the Serie A and Eredivisie.

Van Gaal is a fervent believer in an attacking style of football, a philosophy which is not dissimilar to Wenger’s.

Although he would make a worthy replacement, the Dutchman has stated his desire to sit out the 2011- 2012 season.

Sky Sports reports that the manager said, “I plan to have a sabbatical year starting in the summer."

With Van Gaal ruling himself out of contention, can you name one other manager who Arsenal has a realistic chance of signing immediately?

Perhaps Arsene Wenger’s biggest trait as a manager is his ability to get the most out of his players. He takes time and care to nurture young talent whilst being a pillar of support for his more established professionals.

Almost every player that Wenger has managed has described him as a fatherly figure that has been of great importance to them during their Arsenal days.

Despite leaving the Gunners under acrimonious circumstances, Samir Nasri described Wenger as a “second father.”

Likewise, Cesc Fabregas has told the media: "For me, he will be like a second father. I will never be able to thank him enough for all he did for me.”

If anyone is to get the best out of this Arsenal team, it is Wenger.

Arsenal may be in the midst of a torrid run of form, but his players have not lost faith in him.

Usually, when a team loses faith in their manager that is when it is time to go. Just ask Luiz Felipe Scolari about his Chelsea days. The faith Arsenal’s squad has in the Frenchman is seemingly undying.

Sky Sports reports that Kieran Gibbs has recently expressed his faith in the long serving Arsenal manager. He is reported to have said: “What Arsene Wenger has done is incredible. We are 100 percent behind him.”

Likewise, Bacary Sagna has publicly issued a rallying call to disgruntled fans by telling the media: “I believe in our manager and the players.”

Such statements are consistent from several members of his squad. Andrey Arshavin, Per Mertesacker, Alex Song and Johan Djourou have all publicly backed Wenger.

Despite Arsenal’s trophy woes in recent seasons, Wenger remains their most successful manager of all time.

He has won the Gunners three Premier League titles and four FA cups, as well as guiding them towards a Champions' League final and Carling Cup final.

Although the start to the Premier League season has been uninspiring, there is no reason why Arsenal cannot win a knock out competition this year.