Thierry Henry
Price GBP 10 Million. He was an out of sorts winger at Juventus before Wenger brought him to Arsenal. Henry swept all before him in his career at both club and international level. There isn’t a trophy that he hasn’t won inEngland, Spain or internationally.
Cesc Fabregas
Price Free. He came in from Barcelona at the age of 16 and is one of the most gifted playmakers of his generation.
Other Honourable Mentions. Robin Van Persie came from Feyenord for GBP 2.75 million. Nicolas Anelka GBP 500 000 from PSG, left for Real Madrid for GBP 23.5 million. Robert Pires (GBP6million), Freddie Ljungberg (GBP 4million) Kolo Toure (GBP under 1million), Emmanuel Petit (GBP 4million). Small transfer fee + eye for Talent = great Yield.
A little known fact is that the Arsenal team that set a Champions League record of 10 consecutive clean sheets en-route to the 2006 Final, cost less than GBP 5million. Wenger and now Arsenal, have a reputation for developing young players and giving them first team experience if they are good enough. They have one of, if not the best, scouting networks in the world.
All transfer deals are kept very secret, as other clubs often watch Arsenal activity and then try to bid for the same players. “Project Youth” has also been very profitable for Arsenal. Even players that don’t make the grade at Arsenal, although sold for small transfer fee, often have sell-on clauses in their contract which can bring in huge secondary transfer fees. Case in point: David Bentley, sold toBlackburnfor GBP 3.5milliiion, with a sell on clause. His subsequent move to Spurs for GBP17 million earned Arsenal a cool GBP 8million (Thanks Spurs). Also noteworthy: Wenger is the only premier league manager to make a profit on transfer, averaging GBP 4.4million per year from 2004 to 2009.
Wenger came to Arsenal and introduced new training and diet regimes. This revolutionized the way English soccer was managed. He rid Arsenal of the Drinking culture at the club and turned them into elite professional athletes. This was a huge factor in prolonging the playing careers of Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown and Tony Adams. He also has the uncanny ability to make average players look better than they really are.
Ray Palour looked a world beater in the double season of 1998. Even more so Emmanuel Adebayor, who was the second highest goal scorer in the 2007/08 premier leagues season. Adebayor then went on to win African Player of the year. He left for Man Cityand then Tottenham a while later, but his career has stuttered since.
Furthermore Wenger has the habit of changing player’s positions. Thierry Henry who was a winger at Juventus was converted into a central striker for Arsenal. After the first six months Henry never looked back and went on to become Arsenal record goal scorer and one of the highest goals scorers in the premier league to date. Emanuael Petit, a centre/left back in France, moved into midfield. He cemented his place in history by scoring the third goal in the World Cup final 1998. Lauren, a central/right sided midfielder, moved to right back where he excelled for a number of seasons for Arsenal.
In his time at Arsenal, Wenger has turned down many a job offer -Bayern Munich, Germany, France and recently Real Madrid. He was Real Madrid’s first choice Manager, ahead of current coach Jose Mourihno. It must be a bitter pill to swallow for the self proclaimed “special one” to know Real Madrid thought Wenger was just a little more special.
In 2011 Wenger was named coach of the Decade by The International federation of football and statistics history, beating Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourihno.
For Wenger to be sacked is unthinkable. Are there any better?
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We live in the generation of now! Now! Now! Patience is a virtue, which sadly the arsenal fans have lost ever since Wenger took charge! Fact of the matter is that the man has spoiled us all these years of unmatched, unparalleled football (barca football was originally arsenal football) and we are starting to feel the sobering effects. Give the man time and have some faith! Gunner 4ever!
No one is indispensable .If you dont win for a period of time you are out. Wenger has been given more than enough time compared to other bosses.
I firmly believe he could be out if the gunners are on along winless streak.