Arsene Wenger – Arsenal Manager since 1996
I did it My Way
As an Arsenal faithful for the past ten to eleven years, I can speak for Gooners, that their relationship with Wenger can be best described as “Patchy”..
Firstly, there is no doubt that Arsene Wenger has transformed Arsenal: the Football Club, and no matter, what he is an inseparable part of the legacy of the club. The high of his career is definitely the “Invincible” season, where Arsenal dominated the League and created history.
Legacy of Arsene Wenger
however recent past is more frustrating, 6 years without a trophy is like a daily heart burn for every Arsenal Fan,, and the so called arrogance of Arsene, especially in the signings at the club has left the fan dumb struck at times.
This year has seen an exodus of players, Nasri, a promising player left the club and is doing well at his new club,, Fabregas was going to leave one day, yet his leaving was in midst of such a multi year saga, that it left a bad taste.. I will not list the players who have left,, nor will I list the new signings..
The Abandoners of Arsenal Project
The only characteristic is that money has not been generously splashed on new players and the strategy at best can be described as “Conservative”
But what I have said above is nothing new, its merely relay of facts, nothing more and 99% of Gunner faithfuls will agree to what I have said.
I want to delve more into the psyche of Arsene Wenger, and try and construct an explanation behind this behavior of his. I want to explore what could be the motivations behind this strategy of his.
To begin with, I do not think Wenger is targeting the record of Ferguson or that of Liverpool, in terms of most number of league championships. Certainly his strategy does not seem that way,, plus having already spent 15 years at the club,,presuming that he begins the assault for the record it will take 6 -7 years of continuous domination of league to overhaul the current record. Considering the way money is playing a part in today’s football, Arsene realizes that such domination is unlikely for any club, let alone Arsenal.
The most elusive aspect of Wenger’s career has been an European Championships,, though a great deal of Arsenal’s financial stability is coming from their successive appearances at Knock out phases of Champions League,, but the title itself has always slipped from him. The closest being the Final against Barcelona.
But here also, Wenger’s strategy is not definitive,, the Real Madrid’s or more recently the Chelsea’s of the world have sought to ‘buy’ a European Championship,, Buy big names in football with the lure of Big Money,, Big Money Managers and then make a run for the title. Wenger however remains conservative..
Buy Success in Football
Then what is going for Arsenal in spite of dry seasons in past years..
One must admit the STYLE of football at Arsenal is distinctive.. they do play with a certain flair,, though arguably Barcelona are considered to better executioners of possessive football,, and Arsenal are criticized as more of hold, hold and NO shot on goal kind of possessive football.. one must say, Arsenal are a delight to watch at times, their game has more of the ‘WOW’ moments packed into it,, making them a treat to watch.
and here I think is what can explain the psyche of Wenger,, He has carved a niche for himself as a manager who promotes flair and a passing game.. at least he himself must be very proud of this, because in spite of lack of results he has rarely deviated from this style of football and arguably has at times left holes in his defense just to accommodate the flair.
Arsenal Style
and probably this is what he wants,, “to carve out a niche for himself”
To become the manager, ” Who took a relatively young team, with very few big names, and still managed to win”… As a manager he seems to be obsessed with his ideas. It seems he is determined the prove that the current convention of “Buying Success” is WRONG and can be defeated.
He wants to say “I DID IT MY WAY” and did not succumb to temptations of money and believed in football.
this may be explains his arrogance,, currently Arsenal is doing well, qualified for next round of Europe,, go Arsene effect seems to be working..
but one of the qualms of being a Gunner fan is you never know when you will be robbed.. like last year we were alive in all competitions and within a matter of weeks we were no where…
It seems Arsene Wenger likes the Odds against him,, so that when comes out triumphant, as glory will have that additional glitter coming from crushing the nay sayers…
As a Arsenal Fan , I just hope that this year we get to sing Jon Bon Jovi with Arsene … or else we could be back to Boulevard of Broken Dreams on the Greenest of Days…
Its My Life Bon Jovi
or
Broken Dreams
