Originally Posted by
Burney
I think it's a little contrived to look back at the period since 2004 and see it as a process of managed decline. It certainly didn't always feel that way. With the advantage of hindsight, I suppose one could say that the point at which it was really all over was after we sold Fabregas and van Persie in successive seasons. That was the final acknowledgement that Wenger's attempt to build a third great side on the cheap had failed.
However, we were buoyed up by finishing paying for the stadium and the promised riches and influx of top players, etc and hoped for the best, so him staying on for that was understandable.