Over the past 10 years in the club’s history, Arsène Wenger has been placed into the centre of controversy within the fan base about whether or not his time at Arsenal is over. In fact, the base has divided itself into two opposing groups – the ‘Wenger Out Brigade’ and ‘Arsène Knows Best’. But as times have changed in recent years, is it really time for us to say goodbye?
Following the sacking of former manger Bruce Rioch, Arsenal were in need of a new manager to help develop a new team, similarly to a team that existed 10 years prior. With rumour spreading that unknown manger Arsène Wenger was set to join Arsenal the media were quick to apply more pressure. ‘Arsène Who?’ they questioned. Formerly the manager of Japanese team Grampus Eight, Wenger had a lot to prove to the fans and the media when he moved from Japan to North London. In fact, Wenger had to also prove to his own players that he was the right man to drive the team forward. ‘In front of us stood this tall, slightly built man who gave no impression whatsoever of being a football manager,’ was how Arsenal legend Lee Dixon described Wenger on his first day of training. Time at Arsenal started off tough for Wenger and his team finished 3rd in the league for his first season in charge – an improvement from the 5th place they finished the year before.
As his time at Arsenal grew, the boss began to make changes to help benefit his players. Wenger introduced both dieting and also new training methods, something that never existed in English football before. These new changes proved to be a success as Wenger achieved an English double in his first full season at Arsenal. In fact, the ‘pressure’ that was built after he joined the club appeared to ease as he achieved: 2 league titles, 3 FA Cups and 3 Community Shields (including two English doubles 97/98 and 01/02) in 6 years at the club. The methods that Wenger introduced to his team revolutionized English football and made other teams copy Wenger’s methods in the attempt to create similar success.
‘I am still hopeful we can go through the season unbeaten – a frightening thought’ was famously quoted by Wenger during the 2002/03 Premier League season. Although what was quoted never came true that season, what happened the next cemented Arsène Wenger’s place in footballing and managerial history. Due to the ‘Ashburton Grove stadium project’, it restricted Wenger’s funds to bring in new players. With both Manchester United and Chelsea spending a high amount on new quality players, it seemed to be a difficult task for Arsenal to win the title (Jose Antonio Reyes was signed mid-season to aid Arsenal’s challenge for the title). Consequently, money proved to not be a problem for Arsenal since, in the 2003/04 season, Arsenal were able to regain the Premier League title without a single defeat – 26 wins, 12 draws and 0 losses. The Arsenal team of 2003/04 achieved immortality and would forever be known as ‘The Invincibles’ thanks to the managerial performance of Arsène Wenger.
In 2004 construction of the Emirates Stadium (known as Ashburton Grove prior to sponsorship) finally began. Arsène Wenger described this as ‘the ‘biggest decision in Arsenal’s history’ since the board signed Herbert Chapman’. As a result of the stadium project, the next 9 years in Arsenal’s history were a downfall. Wenger was given limited money to spend on transfers which poorly affected them to challenge for title and win other silverware. Arsenal had to make annual profit to pay off debt whereas other teams such as Chelsea were able to spend over £60 million a season on new world class players. As previously stated, the limited funds on transfers resulted in one of the worst periods in Arsenal’s long history. Going 9 years without winning a trophy, Arsenal fans began to question whether it was Wenger’s time up at the club. Despite the apparent failure, from the 2005/06 season all the way to the 2012/13 season the club were still able to achieve: 3 cup finals and also 4 semi finals. Following a disappointing loss in the Champions League final, Wenger was left in a poor state. Both Pirès and Campbell believed their time at the club was over and – arguably the greatest player in Arsenal’s history – Thierry Henry departed the club a year later. Over the past decade, Wenger was building a football team to succeed the Arsenal teams that existed of the 70s and 80s. Unfortunately, half of the team abandoned him with the board even admitting they did not have the financial capabilities to support Wenger in order to replace these players that left that had left the club.
Life at Arsenal was becoming tough for Wenger, due to the lack of big players joining they slowly began to lose the ‘threat’ that they once were to other teams, and fans slowly began to turn their backs on the man that redefined Arsenal football club. Throughout his Arsenal career, Wenger has received a numerous amount of managerial offers from some of the greatest clubs in the world. Real Madrid, Barcelona and also Paris Saint Germain have all attempted to sign Wenger as their new manager. Consequently, they all received the same answer – no. Despite all the pressure and criticism he was facing, Arsène Wenger stayed loyal to the club he joined in 1996. This was much different to one of Wenger’s biggest rivals – José Mourinho. Yes, this individual is one of the greatest managers to ever be apart of football, but, Mourinho strived for his personal honours rather than the honour of staying loyal to his team. In fact, when Wenger was interviewed by Martin Keown, when asked about his honours he stated: ‘Martin, I don’t even know where they are, that tells you I don’t look back.’ Despite being both great managers, Wenger and Mourinho are two completely different people. When life at Chelsea wasn’t going according to plan in 2007, Mourinho departed the club for Inter Milan. However, despite all the lucrative offers that he received when life was tough, Wenger remained loyal to Arsenal.
In recent years it was revealed that Arsenal had paid off all of the debt for the Emirates Stadium. As a result of this, Arsène Wenger would finally be able to financially compete with the other big clubs in England including both Chelsea and Manchester City. Prior to their first big signing, Arsène Wenger had managed to keep Arsenal in a consistent position with a £9 million net in 10 years. Once the debt was all cleared, it was finally time that Arsenal were able to purchase world class talent. In 2013, Arsenal bought German playmaker Mesut Özil and in 2014, Arsenal bought Alexis Sánchez. With Wenger finally being able to buy world class players, it transformed the club into winning silverware once again with back-to-back FA Cup wins in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons.
Despite the fact that some fans believe it is time to say goodbye to Arsène Wenger, I can assure you that should not be the case. If Wenger is to leave the club when his deal ends in 2017, he would be able to leave the club on a very positive note with his promises met. When asked what condition he would like to leave the club in, he said: ‘In a strong healthy position with a club full of good players, good use behind and a strong financial position to go further up and further up even more – and I will do that.’ When we reach the end of the 2016/17 Premier League season everything that Wenger has developed today would finally be complete. Players including: Alexis, Özil, Ramsey and Wilshere will all be in their prime whilst other players including: Oxlade Chamberlain and Bellerin will be developing even further. On top of this, academy players such as Zelalem and Crowley would also have their first impact on the league at that time. Brand new world class additions to the team would help even further. This brand new team that Wenger has developed ever since his previous abandoned him would be complete. If Wenger does retire when his deal ends in 2017, the next man who comes in will be in a very strong position for they will have a strong financial backing as well as a large amount of world class players to work with in order to win more trophies.
Over the past 10 years in the club’s history, Arsène Wenger has been placed into the centre of controversy within the fan base about whether or not his time at Arsenal is over. Despite all the pressure and stressed applied to him from the media and the fans, Wenger has remained loyal to the club. His plan to make Arsenal one of the greatest teams in world football is edging closer to its end, if we say goodbye to him now all of his work could go to waste. For all of the commitment he has given to the club we – as fans – should never question when it is time for us to say goodbye to him, only he knows when that time will be. In future when we look back in history of the famously called ‘Wenger Era’, we will be able to see everything that ‘Le Professeur’ has achieved not only at Arsenal Football Club, but for all of football in the world today.
There will never be a right time for us to question whether it is ‘time to say goodbye’ to Arsène Wenger.
Thank you for reading my first ever article, I hope you enjoyed it.
John Smith 