The jeers are getting increasing louder at the emirates, what started from a small section of Arsenal fans, has grown into a tidal wave flowing through the stadium, with one voice like an orchestra in harmony; WENGER OUT!!! ARSENE OUT!!! WENGER OUT!!! ARSENE OUT!!!.
Arsene Wenger arrived at arsenal in the year 1996 after getting permission to leave Nagoya Grampus. He was officially unveiled on the 22nd of September 1996. on his arrival Wenger said “the main reason for coming is that i love English football, the roots of the game are here”. the former Monaco coach assumed the job of manager officially on the 1st of October 1996.
The first match Arsene took charge of as manager of arsenal was a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on the 12th of October 1996, Arsenal went on to finish third in his first season in charge. Arsenal went on to win the premier league in Arsene Wenger’s second full season in charge in the 1997/98 season. after that there was no looking back from arsenal and Arsene as he went on to winning many more trophies in the next few years.
Arsenal did not just win trophies, they won the arsenal way, they won the Arsene way. winning with so much flair and lovely passing game. He imprinted his philosophy on the Arsenal team, leading the then famous invincibles of Arsenal to a 49 match un-beaten run between 7th may 2003 against Southampton to 16th October 2004. a run which was halted by the red devils at Old Trafford.
Had such great talents under his tutelage in Nicolas Anelka, Ian Wright, club legend and all time leadiing scorer Thiery Henry, Robert Pires, then captain Tony Adams, safe pair of hands David Seaman, midfield maestro and dutchman Denis Bergkamp, midfield marshall patrick viera to mention a few.
When the greats neared their 30’s wenger sort for replacements and brought in very young players with future prospects, keeping faith in them and bringing them straight into the first team. he signed players like theo walcott, ox-lade chamberlain, aaron ramsey, gael clichy, cesc fabregas, phillipe senderos all under 20 at that time. players the media dubbed as “the young guns”
The arsene and arsenal love story has been going cold for a while now with the last premier league title win coming in the 2003/04 season. since that title a certain jose mourinho has won the champions league with porto, come to england to coach chelsea won the league twice, left for inter in italy, won both league and uefa champions league, went to spain won the league title, come back to england and won the league again.
Arsene wenger is in the final year of his contract, and there are talks the board are considering replacing him. for the first time in 22 years london rivals totteham will be finishing ahead of arsenal, you have to go back in time to the 1994/95 season. their are media reports suggesting he is losing the dressing room with players sensing a lack of ambition from the manager and the contract renewal of goal machine alexis sanchez and mercurial midfielder mezut oezil splitting the board
Arsenal currently lie in 6th position, nine points off the final champions league spot after playing 33 matches. this implies arsenal will not finish in trthe top four. which means they will fail to qualify for the money spinning champions league. you have to rewind to the 1996/97 season for the last time that happened. for arsenal to make it into the top four this season they have to win their remaining five matches and hope the teams around them slip-up.
As things stands, the only hope of a trophy this season is the Fa cup which they face top of the table Chelsea in the final on the 27th of may at the wembley stadium.
If wenger fails to make it into the top four this season, will there be enough love to go around between wenger and the arsenal board to keep him at the helm of affairs, or will wenger finally be boothed out. only time will tell.
Titles won by arsene for arsenal include; 6 fa cups (1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2013/14, 2014/15, 6 community shield (1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2015), 3 premier league titles (1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04).
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