Arsene Wenger

When he joined the club in 1996 we were like a ship without a rudder. Rioch had got us into Europe the previous season and of course bought Bergkamp and Platt to the club.
Arsene Wenger - Inspirational

When the little known Frenchman joined Arsenal, he was well respected in France and Japan but of course the press over here in their own way, didn't know much about him and were even saying Arsene who?

I believe his first two signings were Remi Garde (who remembers this skilful little player) and of course a certain AC Milan reserve and understudy to Desailly a Patrick Vieira. As soon as Arsene joined the club changed almost overnight but I suppose it took a year, and we went from a slightly huffing and puffing London club straight onto the World stage.

His signings read a who's who of World class footballers, although before they joined the Arsenal with the exception of Marc Overmaars were relatively unknown outside of their respective countries.

Petit was a defender in the French league with a penchant for long hair and dodgy suits who cane over here and was transformed into a World Class midfielder, doing a fine job in tandem with the mercurial Vieira. That is until he decided the grass was greener on the other side and has left currently languishing like a lost puppy at Chelsea Pensioners FC. You only had to see the look on his face after the cup final last season, to see he regretted ever leaving Arsenal.

Wenger also signed and turned into arguably the most exciting prospect in World Football a Nicolas Anelka, the horse faced one with a sulk bigger than the Tottenham fans at last seasons Worthless Cup final. this boy was the mutts nuts and in tandem with Bergkamp terrorised defences up and down the country with his pace and an eye for goal. But alas the big bucks came calling and he too finds himself at err Man. City, only a small step down the ladder of football immortality.

Of course Wenger signed Marc Overmaars and after his initial settling in period, he went on a one man crusade to secure us the double of 1998, including that all important goal at Old Trafford and a goal in the Cup Final against those perennial losers Newcastle. He also left for pastures new to join his boyhood idols Barcelona, where he still resides but somewhat a peripheral figure in a nothing side who it now appears have also spent their what seemed to be inexhaustible budget.

Which ties in nicely with Wenger's biggest asset, an eye for a player? To this day he has hardly splashed out ala Manchester United and has instead found gems lurking on every corner of Europe, brought them to the club, settled them in and then unleashed them on the Premiership to unsuspecting teams.

To this day the signings that have made an impact after initially looking anything but top draw are off the top of my head Henry, Ljungberg, Lauren, Pires, Wiltord, Edu, Silvinho and of course the players I mentioned above.

He gave Henry the confidence the express himself and can you honestly see Arsenal without Mr. Henry up front, running at defenders, who he must give nightmares to on the eve of a game. His record at Arsenal is something like 80 goals in 140 odd games, which compares most favourably with that other goal scoring legend Ian Wright Wright Wright.

Bergkamp has of course blossomed under Wenger to become in my own humble view the best player to don the famous red and white shirt at that most famous of shrines Highbury (are we really going to move away from my spiritual home). Bergkamp last season to a bit of stick from our so called loyal know all fans, having the audacity to call him over the hill?

Well, from Xmas onwards he was arguably our most influential player and the way he clicked with Ljungberg, well the double was a foregone conclusion with these two players in tandem. I went to the Newcastle at Highbury in the cup and I witnessed the greatest performance of a player showing all his skills and crafts and as he single handedly gave Newcastle the run around, and I came away from that game truly honoured to have witnessed Dennis Bergkamp that day. Of course he did it in many more games last season but that one game was awesome viewing.

Pires joined Arsenal as Overmaars replacement, a hard act to follow and the early signs were one of caution for Pires as he wouldn't express himself in those early games and some games passed him by. As his first season went on he took more and more games by the scruff of the neck including that special week when we beat Tottenham, Valencia and Tottenham with Pires pulling the strings from midfield.

Wenger likened him to Zidane and called him our Zidane, a big name to live up to but I think the boy did well. Last season was one of unenviable pleasure as we saw the real Pires, a player who tore teams apart with his runs, passes and of course the odd goal or three. It is hard to pick out his best game because he was so damn good all season. Leverkusen at home was possible his pinnacle game, because he hurt them that night and didn't matter how deep they pushed him he still found the killer pass every time. He works in almost telepathic unison with Henry and Wiltord, and any defender who successfully marks him out of the game has earned his dosh. The injury curtailed his season and lets hope he comes back stronger than ever. The Writers player of the year award was a fitting tribute to a great footballer.

Arsene Wenger has transformed Arsenal into a club to be proud of, the youth set up is arguably the best in England and the players coming through the ranks fill me with great hope in a time when football thankfully has reached saturation point and the clubs have got a hold on the transfer market. hopefully no more silly money being splashed out on average players with inflated egos. We have had our fair share of these players, but for every one of them we have a Bergkamp or Ljungberg to be proud of, knowing they cherish the shirt they play in and give everything to represent the Arsenal.

Darren (a Gooner)
 
 

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