The North London club’s longest serving manager, Wenger announced his decision to leave the club on the 12th of April 2018 during the 2017/2018 season.
Having served the club for a record of 22 years, the French decision to leave the club caused mixed feelings among fans of the English club.
Although the fans had called for the decision following a long spell of unattractive style of play and lack of competitiveness, the announcement came as a shock.
The Frenchman arrived at the London club in 1996 replacing Bruce Rioch in August of the same year. Arsene coached Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus before his big move to England. He won the league championship a year after his appointment as Monaco boss, he also lifted the Coupe de France in 1991. He added the Emperor’s Cup and Japanese Super Cup to his name during his one year stay at Nagoya Grampus Egypt.
During his early years as Arsenal manager, he not only produced outstanding players and trophies but a style of play as well. His arrival saw the introduction of quick incisive one touch counter attacking football which Arsenal soon became associated with in English football. His style affirmed his belief in his quote about football.
“Football is an art, like dancing is an art but only when it’s well done does it become an art”
And an art is what “Wenger ball” became.
He led the side to a double in 1998 (after throwing away a chance to win the league in 1997 following a run of poor results) and 2001 wining the English league and the FA Cup becoming the first foreign manager to achieve a double.
Arsene Wenger also commissioned the movement of the club from Highbury to the Emirates stadium.
The North London giants however went on a trophy drought for nine years (2005 to 2014) under the French manager. The much needed trophy came in the 2014 FA Cup final against Hull City where the Gunners had to overturn a two goal deficit to claim victory, Aaron Ramsey scoring the winning goal in the 109th minute of the match. The Gunners continued to lift the FA Cup, lifting 3 in 4 years. Wenger set another record as he won the competition 13 times.
Although the Frenchman did so much for the club in the 22 long years that he served the North London club, his departure was sour than a lot had anticipated.
The fans and players just seemed to have had enough of him as long tenure drew to a close. In spite of the criticisms that Arsene received, Arsenal Football Club, the fans and Football around the world acknowledged the accomplishment of the Arsenal legend and nicknamed him “LE PROFESSEUR” a French word which translates as “THE TEACHER”.
After a five-star performance against Burnley in his last match as a manager, the 61-year-old remarked:
“But above all, I am like you, I am an Arsenal fan. This is more than just watching football, it’s a way of life. It is caring about the beautiful game about the values we cherish and as well, that something that goes for all our bodies in every cell of our bodies. We care, we worry, we desperate but when you come here, the theatre of dreams we realize what it means …”
Attestation to the love and commitment the Frenchman has for the London club, he helped build a team that will be worldwide remembered for an unbeaten run in the league. An established iconic name “The Invincibles.”