Preacher
Always Crying
The man. The legend John Cross
He should get some kind of PR award for his work:
He should get some kind of PR award for his work:http://www.football365.com/news/mediawatch-arsenal-set-for-another-spending-spreeArsenal and their transparent PR
On March 7, Mediawatch truly knew Arsène Wenger was in trouble at Arsenal. That was the date on which the Daily Mirror’s John Cross turned:
‘There should be no room for such sentiment or charity in football. Wenger has relied on sentiment for too long, living off the back of his previous achievements in his glorious first ten years at the club.
‘The last ten years have represented a steady decline; we thought they were picking up again in the last three seasons but this shows they are actually further behind than ever. A two-year contract is on the table waiting to be signed. But it is surely nearly impossible to justify Wenger signing it and staying on for another term. Sadly, yet another humiliating European exit must represent the end game for Arsenal’s greatest ever manager.’
Pretty damning stuff from a man who knows Wenger more than most. Fast forward a fortnight, and another shambolic defeat (this time to West Brom), and surely Cross’ feelings haven’t changed?
Except that they have. Despite Cross writing in February that ‘Arsène Wenger is preparing to leave Arsenal at the end of the season — and make a clean break from the club’, it now seems that Wenger will stay. Cue an about turn from our man:
‘Wenger is ready to reinvent himself in order to rebuild Arsenal and his own reputation, and bring back success to the Emirates.
‘That’s the deal and the reasoning behind the discussions over a new two-year contract. Make no mistake. Wenger has made his decision clear that he wants to stay and, even at 67 and after years of stubbornness, he believes he can rediscover his glory years.
‘There will be a major shake-up of the squad, big changes behind the scenes – they want a new Academy director and in the longer term a director of football – and an expectation of Wenger being able to take the club “to the next level.” That has become the buzz phrase around the place despite the prospect of losing star duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil this summer.’
From ‘impossible to justify staying on’ and ‘must represent the end game’ to ‘ready to reinvent himself’ and ‘major shake-ups’ in two weeks. Arsenal truly have got a loyal friend in John Cross. Either that or the win over Lincoln City was better than we thought.
Like night follows day
Don’t think that this Arsenal PR surge is just about pithy buzz phrases and promises of improvement, though. Oh no. No boy. No siree.
This time Arsenal really do mean business, because they have a list of high-profile transfer targets. And you were worried about maintaining the stagnancy while losing your two best attacking players? Silly supporters. Now go buy your season tickets.
As part of his Daily Mirror PR push, John Cross writes that Arsenal are interested in *takes deep breath* Alexandre Lacazette, Kylian Mbappe, Marco Reus, Ross Barkley, Moussa Dembele, Jack Butland, Joe Hart, Jordan Pickford, Kieran Tierney and Jose Gaya. It’s not like the club have ever made similar promises via a media leak before when the chips are down.
Apart from that time in March 2016, when Cross wrote that Arsenal were targeting Victor Wanyama, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Toni Kroos, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and John Stones.
And apart from that time in April 2016, when Cross added Alvaro Morata and Kostas Manolas to that list from a month previous.
And apart from that time in May 2015, when Cross wrote that Arsenal were interested in Petr Cech, Ilkay Gundogan, Yohan Cabaye, Nabil Fekir and Raheem Sterling.
And apart from that time in April 2014, when Cross wrote that Arsenal were targeting Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic and Tom Cleverley.
And apart from that time in May 2014, when Cross added Karim Benzema, Lars Bender and Morgan Schneiderlin to that list from a month previous.
And apart from that time in May 2013, when Cross wrote that Arsenal were targeting Gonzalo Higuain, Stevan Jovetic, Rene Adler, Kevin Strootman and Maxime Gonalons.
But this time it’s definitely going to happen. And definitely not a shonky attempt at appeasing supporters. Good work, Arsenal.
Stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one before
‘Wenger has made his decision clear that he wants to stay and, even at 67 and after years of stubbornness, he believes he can rediscover his glory years.There will be a major shake-up of the squad, big changes behind the scenes – they want a new Academy director and in the longer term a director of football – and an expectation of Wenger being able to take the club to the next level’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror, March 2017.
‘Arsène Wenger is determined to stay on as Arsenal manager – and wants to oversee a major rebuild of his squad this summer. It is likely to lead to a big clear-out at the Emirates, with boss Wenger targeting several summer buys’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror, March 2016.
‘Arsène Wenger will sign a new Arsenal contract, and is proving it by planning a huge spending spree in the summer transfer window. Wenger has left Arsenal in no doubt that he is staying because he is lining up big transfer targets as he looks to strengthen his squad for a title challenge next season’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror, April 2014.
‘Arsène Wenger will be given a huge budget to transform Arsenal back into genuine contenders next season by making summer signings’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror, May 2013.
We doubt if even poor Crossy believes it by now.
