Thank You For the Memories
I have been an Arsenal fan for the better part of about 14 years now. I have seen the incredible Invincibles at their peak, striking fear into the hearts and minds of opponents. I have seen brilliant players showcase their extraordinary talent while wearing the crimson red and the gold cannon on their chests. I have seen terrible shorelines and disappointing seasons, star players leaving, and mediocre replacements. The glorious history of Highbury and the modern splendour of the Emirates Stadium. I have seen it all. And in all this time, one man making it all work; Arsene Wenger.
To put it into perspective: Arsene Wenger took over Arsenal in September 1996, I was born in October ’96. I have not seen another manager in charge of Arsenal in my entire life, and it seems highly unlikely that I will see a change until 2019 at the earliest. I have always been a fan of the man. His legacy at Arsenal and in the Premier League is undisputed. He came in ’96 as an unknown Frenchman from the Japanese league, and now, is the longest serving foreign manager in the Premier League. The first post-War manager to win 7 FA Cups. A household name.
He joined Nagoya Grampus Eight, after becoming disillusioned with the sport while manager of AS Monaco, and David Dein and the Board felt he was the perfect candidate to replace Bruce Rioch. Wenger immediately shook things up, changing the training schedule and eradicating the heavy drinking culture that existed in the English league at the time. He brought in young, talented prospects like Nicholas Anelka, and reaped the rewards by winning the Premier League and FA Cup Double in 97/98. He made many tactical and training practices rather popular and other managers began to absorb and adapt his ideals. He was the first manager to actually go toe-to-toe with Sir Alex Ferguson, as the exciting Gunners pushed and challenged Man United for the League, year in year out.
Perhaps one of Wenger’s finest pieces of transfer business was the acquirement of 19 year old Thierry Henry from Juventus in 1999. The lad went on to score 228 goals in 258 appearances. Outside the Emirates stands a statue of Henry celebrating one his his most iconic goals in an Arsenal shirt. It is rather difficult to say who was the next best signing as many world-class players come to mind. Many were signed as relative unknowns and went on to become international superstars. Wenger earned a reputation for cultivating youth. Viera, Pires, Fabregas, van Persie, are only a few that owe much of their career to Wenger.
He was undoubtedly one of the best managers of his generation. His crowning achievement being the 49 game unbeaten streak he led Arsenal on, winning the 03/04 title on the way. We went the entire 38-game season undefeated, and swept away most of the opposition on the way to claiming the trophy. The cherry on top was winning the league against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Images of Wenger lifting the trophy while surrounded by the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Viera et al, still gives me goosebumps. I still believe that no other team will beat that record. No team can match the Invincibles.
Fast forward to 2017, and it seems highly unlikely that the same Wenger would be sat on the sidelines with his head in his hands watching Liverpool annihilate his charges 4–0. Since 2006, Arsenal have only dropped in stature. We are a shadow of the club we once were. A laughing stock. A blueprint for other teams not to follow. When we moved into the shiny new Emirates Stadium in 2007, it was filled with a sense of optimism, pride and excitement. The largest stadium in London bar Wembley (which is not a Premier League stadium), the second largest stadium in the Premier League after Old Trafford. State of the art facilities. And Thierry Henry leading us from the front. An Arsenal fan could be forgiven for expecting plenty of trophies and happiness in the years to come. Especially considering we were the runners-up in the 2006 UEFA Champions League.
10 years, and precisely 0 Premier League titles later, the Emirates now houses three FA Cups and an atmosphere of mistrust, anxiousness and anger. Much of the stand are covered with “Wenger Out” banners, and the slightest mistakes are enough to turn the expectant crowd to dismay. It was almost as though when we left Highbury, we left our passion with it. Along with the lack of silverware came the other issue, financial constrictions. Over the course of 8 years, Arsenal became known as a selling club. Cultivating youth and selling them off for large profits. This, paired with the arrival of Stan Kroenke as majority shareholder effectively turned Arsenal into a business, putting Wenger’s degree from LSE to good use. Profits were prioritised over progress.
Since “#WengerOut” began trending on Twitter a couple years ago, my affinity towards it has only grown. Initially, I was firmly against it. I believed, and still believe that Wenger, no matter his shortcomings, is an Arsenal legend and impacted the club in way no one else could have. Sacking the man is out of the question in my opinion. The board won’t sack him either. They know his standing and his legacy. For all the fans that want him fired, if it ever happened, you would be dismayed too. Any true football fan wouldn’t stand for the removal of Wenger. He has contributed too much to football. It is also a hopeless wish, he has the full backing of Kroenke.
But I am tired. Tired of watching us travel to top 6 opposition and get dismantled. Tired of watching top talent leave due to lack of ambition. Tired of worrying about qualifying for Champions League. Just tired. Wenger has consistently managed to disappoint fans and constantly lower expectations until 4th place seems like a trophy, and the FA Cup is the most important title. Last season marked the peak of “Wenger Out” protests with chants and songs ringing out of the Emirates every game. Each dropped point and each conceded goal turned the volume up another notch. Banners appeared every game as more fans fell behind the protest. It seemed too much for the man at one point. But Wenger never fails to surprise, and he did exactly that, by penning a new 2-year deal taking him into 2019. I sincerely hope this is the last deal he signs. I have offered Wenger my staunchest support for most of my life. But there is a limit, and this thrashing at the hands of Liverpool has crossed my limit. He benched the two summer signings who would have made a massive difference. He constantly starts players based on sentiment rather than form. He sold Gabriel and now rumours are circulating that Mustafi might go to Inter. Where are the replacements? Who will play in case of an injury?
I have always taken Wenger’s side in arguments with other angry Arsenal fans, reminding them of all he’s done for us. But recently, past glories aren’t enough to satisfy the wolves, and furthermore, I’m becoming more partial to their mindset. It is sad, watching such an icon fall from grace, and in his own fans’ eyes at that. But he knew what he was signing up for when he put pen to paper in May. He knew that by signing that contract, the fans would be watching and judging his every move. One slip up and we would be at his throat. He started off brightly enough, signing both Kolasinac and Lacazette, and beating Chelsea in the Community Shield, before a nail biting 4–3 win over Leicester on opening day. The usual grumbles of leaky defence were hushed by scintillating attack, and the argument that key defenders were missing from the side. But the attack, oh my, we were a joy to watch. Each of the players, especially Giroud and Ramsey, who came on and changed the game. Lacazette was clinical, something we had missed since RvP, and we still had Alexis to come back, presuming he stayed.
But that was about it. Stoke away, and the usual 1–0 loss kicked it off, before the Anfield drubbing (and yes, I do know we are only 3 games into the season but I am rather angry). The decision to leave Lacazette on the bench perplexed me, and to honest, as a seasoned Arsenal fan, I knew we would probably lose. Our best chance was 1 point, and that was because Liverpool are, well, Liverpool. Can you believe we did not have a single shot on target? Against Liverpool!! Kolasinac, benched in favour of Monreal. Alexis subbed off at 60+ minutes, and the chap was laughing on the bench, probably thinking about how many goals he will score against this useless team when Man City come to the Emirates. And to be honest, I don’t blame him. He is world-class and 28 years old. He doesn’t have too much time left at the top and Arsenal are clearly not winning any major trophy for the next two years. Why should he stay, and hope the next manager wins it in his first season? Delusional. At least sell him off now for 60/70 million than let him walk for free next summer.
I’m tired. I don’t have much strength left in me. I hate seeing my boyhood club in such a situation, butt of social media jokes and memes. I hate having to rant against the man that gave us so much joy and happiness. But that seems like a lifetime ago. That Wenger seems to have stayed behind at Highbury, with all his beloved memories and the hero stature he so deserved. We will miss him when he finally leaves, just like Man United miss Sir Alex, but I would rather miss him, than see him fail as he is now.
I won’t end this with “Wenger Out” because it is a waste of character space. He will stay until 2019 at least, unless he falls so low he is forced to resign, which I pray does not happen. So I brace myself for two more years of rollercoaster games, near-misses, excuses, heartbreak, dismay, and the occasional moments of pure joy, which taste all the more sweeter when you’re used to bitterness.
