Never before has Arsene Wenger come under as much scrutiny as he has over the last year. Let’s not forget what the man has achieved. Three premier League Titles and four FA Cup wins in his first seven seasons with Arsenal, including two Double winning seasons. No one bar Alex Ferguson has a won more Premier League titles.
The only good thing Gerard Houllier ever did for Arsenal was to recommend Arsene Wenger to David Dein when Arsenal were looking for a Manager in 1996. Ironic that Wenger has easily surpassed Houllier in managerial success. Thanks Gerard!
“Invincibles” of 2004
After winning the Double in 2002, the press misconstrued a statement by Wenger where he implied he wanted to improve on the 3 Defeats suffered in the premier league in 2002. The press berated him; talk of an unbeaten season was arrogant and unachievable. He never implied it but the press were forced to eat their words in 2004 as Arsenal went an entire season unbeaten. Only 10 Teams in the history of European football had ever achieved this. In the Elite European leagues onlyMilan,Perugia,Genoa, Athletic Bilboa andAjax have achieved such a feat.
The last six years have been different; the trophy cabinet has been bare, which for a club like Arsenal, is unacceptable. So what happened in the last six years at arsenal? The biggest factor – the move to the Emirates Stadium.
After much planning and years of construction, Arsenal moved into their state of the art “Emirates Stadium” in Ashburton Grove. This took a heavy toll on Arsenal Finances and although Arsenal Football Club would never admit it, the monetary resources available for transfers were vastly reduced. Arsenal moved from 9th in the Deloitte football money list (2006 – EURO 177.4) up to 5th the next year with a Revenue of EURO 263.9. It is the second largest football stadium inEngland behind Old Trafford. However with the executive and special boxes, the stadium brings in more revenue per match day than Old Trafford. The stadium cost around GBP 390 million. Two thirds of the debt has already been repaid after selling of most of the property development at Highbury.
Every part of the stadium that the players pass through has been influenced by Arsene’s design. He is a man of detail and has made input in all these areas.
Pulled a rabbit out of a Hat
Wenger is well known for finding talented young footballers. Perhaps BEST known.The biggest surprise was George Weah, who Wenger signed for Monaco from Cameroonian Side Tonnerre Yaounde (for which he played just 18 games, scoring 14 goals). Weah then moved on from Monaco to AC Milan, where in 2005 he won European Footballer and World Footballer of the year and dedicated the awards to Wenger. Beside Weah, there is a long list of players that Wenger has brought in and turned into world class footballers.
Patrick Viera
Price GBP 2.25 million. Prior to his Arsenal signing he was playing in the AC Milan reserves, making just 1 appearance for the first team. Viera is arguably the best central midfielder to ever play in the premier league, only Roy Keane can be compared to Vieria in his position.
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.