Wenger couldn't have asked for a better final home game. Really good performance against an admittedly poor Burnley side.

For me this game served as an appetizer for next season. Really looking forward to see what these players can do under a new manager and with a couple of additions. There's a lot of talent in this squad.

Fighting back the tears, good luck and merci Arsene.

To raise a serious question on the subject, why are you pro-Brexit?

Indeed. You look at what the poor bastards living in those countries have to go through, and it makes one very grateful for our own position of merely economic slavery in exchange for mostly freedom.
...

off to the hardware store for a few gallons of paint ...?

First because of the disrespect shown to GB when they refused to give Cameron anything despite the fact that GB has been the second biggest contributor to the EU family since I think we joined.

Second because of the way they treated Greece and Cyprus. They took over the management of the Greek economy when they had a deficit of 120 billion euros and five years later it stood at 500 million euros. They allowed the haircut of Cypriot deposits to rectify a financial situation when they bore a lot of responsibility because the European Central Bank refused to censor the Cypriot Central Bank Director who they and only they could censor.

Third the obscene wages and expenses paid to the MPs and unelected EU Ministers etc etc.

Fourth the way they have refused to help Italy and Greece with the influx of refugees in their countries in particular while giving the Turks billions for allowing the refugees to cross Turkey to get to the greek mainland.

Fifth they have done nothing to help the less fortunate amongst us and the low paid whilst allowing the rich to get richer at their expense.

I could go on and on but what's the point. The fact is that a lot of people that voted remain know absolutely nothing about the machinations of the likes of Juncker Tusk Merkel and others and who think that by leaving the EU seem to think we are deserting Europe, nothing could be further from the truth.

Rule Britannia.................

Anyone who thinks Antony Taylor is one of our best refs is an idiot! He's not as bad as some but he's totally inconsistent, within games as well as between them. One of those guys obsessed with game management and protecting the product regardless what's going on. Michael Oliver may make the odd cock-up but he's a far far better ref than Taylor.

Ok 1) Cameron retained the power to opt in and opt out of all kinds of EU-laws (that most other members had no choice about) that he decided to piss up against the wall to try to settle an internal party dispute. If we ever return to the EU, we'll never have as much power again.
2) Agree the Greek and particularly Cypriot situation was handled really badly, but on the flip side the Greek government was handing out public funding left right and centre and accumulating debt in a way that even Jezza would be worried about, despite bleeding money and building up debt, despite multiple warnings. As ever, neither side has told this story truthfully.
3) Should I point you to UK MP's, the Lords, and the companies operate in PPP like manners over here, were those creaming off the most are not only unelected, but actively acting for personal profit.
4) They should certainly be doing more to help Greece & Italy, but Germany has taken on vast numbers. Sadly, a number of EU member states are still spectacularly racist.
5) Are you sure you aren't talking about the UK government? A lot of the laws that protect employees, consumers, and human rights for the poor are directly the result of EU legislation. This is the argument I have least truck with as a vote for Brexit is a vote to give more power to those who have been shafting the less well off the most. Taking power back is one thing, but doing so in order to give it to those who have relentless fecked us at every opportunity, are trying to privatise the NHS, have done nothing to alleviate the housing crisis, have slashed benefits for the most vulnerable but nothing to look at tax evasion (unlike the EU) etc etc is, to my mind, stupidity personified.

Rule Brittania? (i presume you are being sarcastic), but rule what exactly?

Ok 1) Cameron retained the power to opt in and opt out of all kinds of EU-laws (that most other members had no choice about) that he decided to piss up against the wall to try to settle an internal party dispute. If we ever return to the EU, we'll never have as much power again.
2) Agree the Greek and particularly Cypriot situation was handled really badly, but on the flip side the Greek government was handing out public funding left right and centre and accumulating debt in a way that even Jezza would be worried about, despite bleeding money and building up debt, despite multiple warnings. As ever, neither side has told this story truthfully.
3) Should I point you to UK MP's, the Lords, and the companies operate in PPP like manners over here, were those creaming off the most are not only unelected, but actively acting for personal profit.
4) They should certainly be doing more to help Greece & Italy, but Germany has taken on vast numbers. Sadly, a number of EU member states are still spectacularly racist.
5) Are you sure you aren't talking about the UK government? A lot of the laws that protect employees, consumers, and human rights for the poor are directly the result of EU legislation. This is the argument I have least truck with as a vote for Brexit is a vote to give more power to those who have been shafting the less well off the most. Taking power back is one thing, but doing so in order to give it to those who have relentless fecked us at every opportunity, are trying to privatise the NHS, have done nothing to alleviate the housing crisis, have slashed benefits for the most vulnerable but nothing to look at tax evasion (unlike the EU) etc etc is, to my mind, stupidity personified.

Rule Brittania? (i presume you are being sarcastic), but rule what exactly?

Not one English ref is going to the world cup. That says it all about standards though I think Oliver is good myself.

Just out of interest, would you accept the north of Ireland staying in the customs union in order to achieve a Brexit outside the customs union for England, Scotland and Wales?

That could only be a wind-up.

If Brexit is hard and a disaster, I anticipate the break up of the union within 20-30 years with the prospect of returning to the EU a further carrot for Scottish and Irish Nationalists (backed by Dublin). 45% of Scots are already in favour of independence and much in favour of staying in the EU. In the north, only a matter of time before there is a border poll with demographics pointing to a nationalist majority by 2022 which will only grow wider by 2040.

I'm an emotional old sod Kiwi underneath the manly exterior.

Whilst I agree the time is right and I'm looking forward to a new chapter, I can't pretend the passing of this era isn't emotional on a human level.

5) Are you sure you aren't talking about the UK government? A lot of the laws that protect employees, consumers, and human rights for the poor are directly the result of EU legislation. This is the argument I have least truck with as a vote for Brexit is a vote to give more power to those who have been shafting the less well off the most. Taking power back is one thing, but doing so in order to give it to those who have relentless fecked us at every opportunity, are trying to privatise the NHS, have done nothing to alleviate the housing crisis, have slashed benefits for the most vulnerable but nothing to look at tax evasion (unlike the EU) etc etc is, to my mind, stupidity personified.

Rule Brittania? (i presume you are being sarcastic), but rule what exactly?

Do you know what the EU MP's get. Around 140 thousand euros a year and they get paid for a first class flight when they attend whether they flew with Ryanair or Easyjet however many times they attend.

I agree all expenses should be reviewed in light of the current economical situation not just EU expenses as it is you and me paying their absurd claims and they should and must be carefully examined regularly.

Rule Britannia, yes it was said in jest but we could return to the good old days when we do deals with the Commonwealth Nations and the US.

The EU will break up before the Union does. The outbreaks of fascism are becoming par for the course and need to be eradicated. The only way to do this is to reform the EU.

Somebody tell TG that Europe needs us more than we need them. Apart from the loss of our contributions who will Germany sell their cars to ad the French their wine to?

Absolutely not. The Governments proposals of cameras and other checks work in other places and could work here.

Anyway it's for the EU to sort out it is their problem.

How true Niall ... Melanie once PM'd me , said you were off your food for a week after James the little Red Engine crashed into a field on his first outing .

On Arsene I'm more pragmatic ... I laud what he has done in the past but don't have the admiration now as his Professor mantle has well and truly slipped , I wish him all the best but don't feel a lot of emotion either way .

I don't even feel a sense of excitement about the new bloke to be honest , strangely my sporting interests have changed radically .

70s 80s 90s I was passionate about rugby union , English soccer , tennis ...... now it is NZ one day/ T20 cricket , Aussie rugby league and V8 supercars

The EU will break up before the Union does. The outbreaks of fascism are becoming par for the course and need to be eradicated. The only way to do this is to reform the EU.

Somebody tell TG that Europe needs us more than we need them. Apart from the loss of our contributions who will Germany sell their cars to ad the French their wine to?

Do you know what the EU MP's get. Around 140 thousand euros a year and they get paid for a first class flight when they attend whether they flew with Ryanair or Easyjet however many times they attend.

Aye - he looked in good spirits with Arsene last week too.

And he's got freaky bug eyes.

He's a wrong un I tell ya!

Well written piece. This bit hits nail on the head


Not winning the title? Don’t worry about it better luck next time. No longer even competing for the title now? Don’t’ worry about it better luck next time, here’s to another wage rise! Struggling to make the top four? Don’t worry about it the bank balance still looks rosy. Out of the top four and well below Spurs? No biggie we all have bad luck some times. 15 Points off the top four and struggling to finish in sixth place above the might of Burnley? No real issue there.

It really has only come to a head because 20,000 fans have started to not turn up to games on a regular basis which in turn opens the whole worlds eyes to the fact that our club has become a total joke. Panic stations everybody. The club has taken an age to make change happen not because they want on-field success but purely because the bottom line has started to take a hit with the lack of Champions League revenue and in stadium match day revenue. It looks bad on TV to the commercial partners and that is why they have let Arsene go.

http://www.onlinegooner.com/article.php ... u1oHdHTWhA

My guess is the fans are so happy to be rid of Wenger and start anew they will come out for the new manager initially and may change depending on how he does over time. I don't think fans will be as patient this time around though.

Is that TG in a white t shirt?

With a tear in his eye no less

.
Wenger has contributed massively to the club and needed to be honoured but I find the Merci Arsene T shirts and mini zeppelins etc a bit strange ; more akin to someone leaving on their own terms when in effect he's been sacked .

Good goals , fitting send off .

I was thrilled to see Mertesacker's last game for the club (presumably) and so much enjoyed the welcome he got from the fans. The Guardian described it as him bringing the house down. I felt quite emotional about it. Now he's finished playing I will see him as an Arsenal legend.

He was much better than some here gave him credit for, and his calm organisation made Per a very important player. As I've said before, I believe he had a big role in turning Koscielny into the player he became, regardless of whether he might now be finished himself at the very top level.

I routinely consider it a privilege for players to play for Arsenal. Mertesacker is one of a much smaller number who I see the club as privileged to have had him play for it.

Leiber Gott .... let's not get to misty eyed here . Nice guy he was ; an Arsenal legend he wasn't .

It's gone under the radar a bit because Mavro has been quite impressive but I think Chambers has been excellent in recent weeks. It looks like he is now compensating for a slight lack of pace with some excellent positioning, reading of the game and aggression.

But can anyone really say what constitutes a legend? Question for the forum.