Written by Cameron Sharpe
As the Arsenal substitutes spilled onto the Highbury pitch to celebrate the home side’s win over Leicester City on the last day of the 2003-04 season, Arsene Wenger’s name was indelibly written into English football history.
Not only had the Frenchman turned the Premier League from a one sided procession into a legitimate contest year after year, but he had created a genuinely excellent side, one that had, in the face of Roman Abramovic’s millions and Manchester United’s indomitable aura, gone through a top flight season unbeaten.
Yet, just over six years on, much of the shine upon Wenger’s achievements has begun to wear off, and this week he has begun to face up to the reality that his once in a lifetime feat might just be matched.
The Gunners have themselves struggled since the famous 2003-04 season- a policy of using inexperienced youth players to replace the ever-diminishing band of ‘Invincibles’ has resulted in the red half of North London going without domestic or European honours for nearly six seasons. During that time they have fallen some way behind London rivals Chelsea as United’s main opposition and have at times looked out of their depth.
Whether it is the years of Premier League football that have taken their toll but Wenger now wears the expression of a tired man. There used to be a time when Wenger was cool. He was the laid back continental tactician to Ferguson’s successful but bullish, grumpy Scotsman, the neutral identified with Wenger and, quietly, there was an undercurrent of support for what he had created. In some quarters, that good feeling, it seems has given way to indignation.
He regularly involves himself in silly disputes with officials and fellow managers, and whilst his sides have failed to perform over recent years, he has defended each one stoutly, even though it has resulted in column inches of scorn and derision.
Wenger’s biggest regret may well be an inability to win Europe’s top prize, an area where the Frenchman has never appeared comfortable. In truth, the Gunners have only really come close on two occasions. One, the 2006 Champions League final where Jens Lehmann’s red card fifteen minutes into the contest proved pivotal as Barcelona came from behind to win 2-1.
Wenger’s followers will point to a remarkable understanding of the transfer market, the inferior level of spending has not stopped these young Arsenal sides from qualifying for the Champions League each year and having moments in cup competitions both at home and abroad. A sublime achievement in an era of limitless funds elsewhere in the division, or is he selling the club short?
There has always been a reluctance to sign big money players, stubbornly avoiding any player that cannot be considered a bargain by wider observers. Undoubtedly, he has been stung by previous big priced failures, the error in paying relatively large sums for Jose Antonio Reyes and Francis Jeffers, only to be badly let down by both.
He has groomed and produced some exceptionally talented footballers, yet appears happier to talk about promise and potential than concrete achievements, and indeed does not give his troops the support they deserve.
It is almost as if Wenger is trying to match Ferguson’s youth dynasty from the 1990’s- establishing his name at the top of the managerial tree. But what if Ferguson matches his record first?
In recent seasons, particularly since the departure of Thierry Henry and Ljungberg in 2007, it is almost as if the club has become Wenger’s personal toy. He is allowed to continue to pursue his self-indulgent transfer policy, not appreciating perhaps that the football world has moved on from the days where Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires could all be acquired for under 12 million pounds.
I wrote last season whilst Arsenal remained in the title race until the closing weeks of the campaign, and considering their run in, should have pushed Chelsea much harder, that should they actually win the Premier League it would be the worst possible thing for the long-term health of the club. My argument was that Wenger should not be allowed to continue with his policy of relying exclusively on unproven youngsters when the finances exist to bring in experienced reinforcements to help push the Gunners that extra mile to silverware.
Yes, there were concerns about funding the move across North London to the Emirates, and with the UEFA financial guidelines getting a firmer hold on irresponsible spending in football, Wenger’s policy is sometimes heralded as something all English sides should aspire to.
Fans of Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool would not tolerate a manager doing similar with their club for such long periods of time, yet because of his exceptional achievement in 2004 Arsenal supporters find themselves putting up with an increasing level of on pitch mediocrity.
For Wenger, it is difficult to predict how another trophy-free season would go down at the Emirates. Despite the 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Ipswich, the club remain firm favourites to take domestic glory there. The bigger concern for Arsenal’s manager is that should United match his ‘unique’ achievement and see out the campaign unbeaten, uncomfortable questions may begin to be asked about the last of the invincibles.
This article was first published on FootballFanCast.com
What a pathetic snipe at Wenger and Arsenal. To even be cosidering comparing the invincibles team with this years Man utd (still a way off remaining unbeaten) is ridiculous. To describe ‘ his self indulgent transfer policy’ shows again, massive ignorance and an obvious agenda.
Appalling article that may as well be in a Man utd fanzine.
Mug.
I want to see Arsene Wenger succeed with this team (as in silverware – he has already succeeded on a lot of issues that most don’t attribute enough seriousness to: the stadium, continued Champions League, integrating youth, and all in a sustainable manner with the club’s future in mind).
This is a good article but is flawed in its conclusion. Manchester Utd have certainly been the team of the last decade and although Arsenal and more latterly Chelsea have at times produced better teams than they have this has only been temporary and Manchester Utd have recovered their leading position usually within a season.
Manchester Utd were the first of the “big” spenders in the Premiership and have over the years bought very expensive ready made players some of whom have been successes such as Ferdinand and Van Nistleroy but some have been disastrous investments like Veron. They had the finances to take these risks and during the 90’s and early 2000s were the only team able to bid such large sums and also pay such large salaries.
Chelsea by spending emulated them and are still probably one of the few teams capable of stalling the push towards invincibility. Manchester City of late have also spent and the money is slowly making them competitive.
Arsenal on the other hand have been frugal, partly due to the new Emirates and partly due to Arsene Wegner’s need to play an important part in the development of his players. He has made a few poor investments but the sums are chickenfeed compared to Manchester Utd and Chelsea who have both bought a number of players in the £10 – 20 million bracket that have never been seen again.
Barcelona won nothing for 5 years while this team was being nurtured – they are now mature and are both a much better team to watch and admire than most British teams – I am certain this is Wegner’s blueprint – whether it works or not is going to be interesting, but at least when the new rules of financial governance come in from UEFA they will be in a much better place than their competitors.
So what if they go unbeaten, firstly they’ve not really done it convincingly or with any style just luck and secondly they would need to match the 49 game total of Arsenal before even being considered close to the real invincibles. Arsenal are odds on for the Carling Cup, Good odds for the FA Cup and Premiership and may go out to Barcelona in the Champions League. I really hate what Wenger has done to my team how dare he.
This writer is a moron by comparing Arsenal to Liverpool that have not won any domestic trophy for almost 20 years,Chelsea waited for almost 30 years to start wining run.
The fact is that you are lazy to know Barcelona waited for over 5 years for them to gel before they start to win and Almighty Man U waited 2years despite the fact that they were seriously been helped by FA and Match Officials e.g. Mike Reily,Horward,Mike dean e.t.c.
Am sure and can bet you all wish Arsene Weger is an ENGLISH.You will all be so proud.
Jeffers had been great but his enthusiasm to be at Arsenal had him make a ridiculous tackle breaking his leg so Wiltord was bought and Jeffers never forced his way back as 4 Wenger spending he always spent before Billionaires inflated prices & stadium payments made it impossible as well Wenger realized that if everyone new a play was good he costs x amount but if no one knows player b at all & he is just as good then u get a bargain so Wenger invested in a wide scouting organization It wasn,t a no spend policy it was i know 1 as good that they don,t know about TH14 had been a flop as a winger but Wenger new him as a junior where he played as a striker
To bedy. Was calling this writer a ‘moron’, meant to be ironic? Because I have read better grammar on the walls of most toilets.
‘No domestic trophies for almost 20 years’ you say? Does three League Cups and three FA Cups since May 1991 not count then?
‘Almighty Man U waited [2years] despite the fact that they were seriously [been] helped by FA and Match Officials.’ What on earth is that in relation to?
And for the record, I thought that it was a good article.
I loved your blog article.Much thanks again. Much obliged.