By Tony Attwood
It was a sad way to say a personal farewell to watching Arsenal coached by Arsène Wenger last night, but even so I’m glad I went to see just one more Wenger game and reflect back on 22 years of the Wenger teams I’ve watched.
And indeed to try and remember what it was like at the start. I’m not a diary keeper nor a programme collector so trying to recall it all comes from looking at the records and the old history books I’ve accumulated.
Leicester away will thus stay in my mind as the last Wenger match I saw, and it led me to thinking about the first just to put the 22 years in perspective. And that turned out to be difficult because when exactly did Arsène Wenger join Arsenal? Do you count the time he was appointed or the time he made his first transfer arrangements or the time he actually turned up and started being abused by the media? Let me explain…
According to the notes I have gathered as part of my work running the Arsenal History Society, Arsenal spent the pre-season in 1996 having a wretched time losing friendlies:
- 27 July lost to Birmingham 1-0
- 31 July lost to Celtic 2-1
- 3 August lost to Ranger 3-0
- 7 August lost to Fiorentina 2-0 and Benfica 3-1 in two tournament friendlies played with different XI’s
- 10 August drew 1-1 with Ipswich
And then on that day of that latest very disappointing pre-season result, 10 August 1996, The Daily Mirror reported that Arsenal were going to sign Patrick Vieira. It seemed very strange – a very un-Bruce Rioch signing, and so it was not surprising that on 12 August Rioch was dismissed. In his previous job he had just taken Bolton to the League Cup final and promotion, and to me his playing style always looked like that. In my book he never fitted.
And now he was gone and that Vieira story looked like just another semi-skimmed rumour from an over-imaginative journalist. But how wrong that thought was because two days later on 14 August Patrick Vieira signed for Arsenal for £3.5m. Of course it meant nothing to most of us (or to be exact, it mean absolutely nothing to me) as I’d never heard of Vieira. And indeed I’d never heard of Remi Garde who also signed on the same day.
So there we were with two new players, a manager dismissed, and in the coming weeks two temporary managers (Houston and Rice) and rumours everywhere concerning what was going on. Arsène Wenger was announced on 22 September as the manager and formally appointed on 1 October, but clearly had been involved from before the moment the Mirror leaked the Vieira story on 10 August.
And thus now, having just seen my last ever Arsène Wenger game with Arsenal, when did I see my first?
Clearly Mr Wenger was the man who said “get Vieira and Garde” and so maybe I can say it was 17 August 1996 for a 2-0 win against West Ham. If I can’t count it until he had been formally announced as manager then it was 28 September for the 2-0 win over Sunderland. If it was not until he was formally appointed it was 19 October with a goalless draw with Coventry.
But actually the one I remember without looking anything up, was Vieira’s first appearance coming on as a substitute against Sheffield Wednesday on 16 September 1996. Of course we had no idea who he was or what he could do, but I still remember turning to my pal in the North Bank and saying, “look at that new fella – he’s come in and taken over the whole of the centre – everything’s moving around him. He’s amazing…”
Of course I can’t be sure that I actually said that, but my pal (so sadly no longer with us) and I used to have that sort of conversation and we always joked thereafter that it was the one prediction I got right. My one bit of foresight in decades of watching football. Vieira was a total footballing genius.
So it was Vieira’s appearance that really made me aware of Arsène Wenger, before Wenger even arrived. The old duffer Peter Hill-Wood actually got it right when he said, “I believe Arsène Wenger is going to be a great success and drag football in this country into the 20th century. There is no doubt in my mind we are blinkered and backward as a sporting nation. Look at the British results in Europe, they were not good, including ours. We keep telling ourselves we have the best league in Europe, but it is not true. We need to catch up with the Continentals and we think Arsène is the man to help us.” An amazingly perceptive commentary from a man not normally remembered for such things.
I’ll settle for 16 September 1996 as my first encounter with anything Wengerian, and last night of course as my last. I was sad seeing him turn away as the whistle went for the end of the game, and walk down the tunnel. The end of the longest era within a lifetime of supporting Arsenal, a lifetime of Arsenal being a very important part of my life.
Of course Arsenal is not the most important; my children and my friends are far more important, but still a central element in what I am, and Arsène has been at the centre of that centre for 22 years. 16 September 1996 to 9 May 2018. My time watching Arsène Wenger’s teams.
And I remain utterly certain and convinced that the football I have seen between September 96 and May 08 has been at a consistently higher level than ever I saw before. Even on the bad days.
Farewell Arsène. You don’t know me, but I sure feel I have got to know you. Farewell old friend. I’ll miss you.
Good piece. If he had left then ? There would be a BIG stautue of The Man that put Quality football above all else.BUT he stayed on and on and on,The EMPIRE he built he slowly dismantled with constant bad buys,bad outdated coaching methods,with him using the same ole excuses. He split the fanbase. David Dein rarely gets a mention. But he bought wenger to Arsenel . He did the deals. And when he went wenger was exposed as the fraud he was. Hopeful
That “fraud” won more FA cups than any other manager in England. Must have been a coincidence then…. sigh
Great article, Tony. Nice memory of Vieira and quote from Peter Hill Wood. Brought a tear to my eye.
And then I read the garbage from someone calling himself Goonermay68. It kind of epitomises the irrational nonsense that, for some reason, we and Arsene Wenger have had to put up with for the past x years.
We won the Cup last year. We were second the year before. We are the cup record holders.For people like him it’s as if it all never happened. We have a team with some of the most gifted players in Europe, as well as talented youngsters brought through under Arsene Wenger, and a positive team spirit which he has fostered above all else.
Thank you Arsene Wenger!
Yes, it was disgusting to watch the Gunners fall prey to the Foxes yesterday at the King Power where they lost 3-1 to keep increasing their loses at away on the run in the PL to 7.
I then remembered Le Boss’ answer in response to a question that was put to him after the Atletico match at the Ems in the Europa asking him that, why was it despite Atletico were down to 10 men very early in the match but still Arsenal didn’t beat them? But he replied to say, some teams play better when they are down in the game to 10 men than when they are 11 on the field as they could defend better with 10 than if they were 11.
However, against Leicester yesterday’s night at away in the PL, Arsenal were 10 men down early in the match when Mavropanos was sent off. But they failed to defend better in the game than if they were 11 men on the field as they went on to concede 2 more goals to Leicester after they had equalised the one goal the one goal deficit they fell behind early in the match. But they finally lost the match by 3-1 to Leicester. What an irony Le Boss’ statement has turned out to be.
And Le Boss has been saying he has received numerous offers after he announced he’ll leave Arsenal at the end of the season as if the Arsenal hierarchy who allegedly forced him out of Arsenal was wrong to have done so after all. If this be the kind of negative thinking Le Boss has in mind that’s making him to say he has received many job offers, then I think he has got t all wrong. For, Arsenal defeat to Leicester yesterday’s night is a further confirmation ttha Le Boss time at Arsenal as the Gunners manager should no longer continue but terminated. For, the Arsenal board had been over patient with him to see if he can once again lead the Gunners to win the much sort after Premier League Title after he last led them to win it 14 seasons back. But the board’s patient with him is to no avail as Le Boss has appeared to have apparently lost his once team managerial acumen by now appearing cannot lead Arsenal beyond winning the FA Cup Title anymore which on it’s own is a Title. But the Arsenal board must have seen Le Boss limitation of not able to guide the Gunners to win the PL and the CL Titles, hence, the Arsenal board decision to part their ways with him but in an amicable manner to honour him what all that he has earlier achieved for the club.
Nevertheless, would Le Boss be magnanimous to allow Steve Bould, his assist to manage the Gunners for the Huddersfield game on Sunday to see if Arsenal can stop their losing streak at away in the PL from extending to 8? Or would Le Boss still manage the Gunners upto the very end of the season at Huddersfield thinking the Gunners will win the match to at least make him go on a win? Hmmm. We’ll see.
I’ve edited my comment and repost it for better understanding.
Yes, it was disgusting to watch the Gunners fall prey to the Foxes yesterday at the King Power where they lost 3-1 to keep increasing their loses at away on the run in the PL to 7.
I then remembered Le Boss’ answer in response to a question that was put to him after the Atletico match at the Ems in the Europa asking him that, why was it despite Atletico were down to 10 men very early in the match but still Arsenal didn’t beat them? But he replied to say, some teams play better when they are down in the game to 10 men than when they are 11 on the field as they could defend better with 10 than if they were 11.
However, against Leicester yesterday’s night at away in the PL, Arsenal were 1 man down early in the match when Mavropanos was sent off. But they failed to defend better in the game than if they were 11 men on the field as they went on to concede 2 more goals to Leicester after they had equalised the one goal deficit they fell behind to early in the match. But they finally lost the match by 3-1 to Leicester. What an irony Le Boss’ statement has turned out to be.
And Le Boss has been saying he has received numerous offers after he announced he’ll leave Arsenal at the end of the season as if the Arsenal hierarchy who allegedly forced him out of Arsenal was wrong to have done so after all. If this be the kind of negative thinking Le Boss has in mind that’s making him to say he has received many job offers, then I think he has got all wrong. For, Arsenal defeat to Leicester yesterday’s night is a further confirmation that showed Le Boss time at Arsenal as the Gunners manager should no longer be allowed continue but be terminated. For, the Arsenal board who had been over patient with him to see if he can once again lead the Gunners to win the much sort after Premier League Title after he last led them to win it 14 seasons back. But the board’s patient which ran out with him must have seen their long patient with him is to no avail as Le Boss has appeared to have apparently saturated in his once time team managerial acumen by now appearing cannot lead Arsenal beyond winning the FA Cup Title anymore which on it’s own is a Title. But the Arsenal board must have seen Le Boss limitation of not able to guide the Gunners to win the PL and the CL Titles, hence, the Arsenal board decision to part their ways with him but in an amicable manner to honour him for all that he has earlier achieved in his first 10 years at the club.
Nevertheless, would Le Boss be magnanimous to allow Steve Bould, his assistant to manage the Gunners for the Huddersfield game on Sunday to see if Arsenal can stop their losing streak at away in the PL from extending to 8? Or would Le Boss still manage the Gunners upto the very end of the season at Huddersfield thinking the Gunners will win the match to at least make him go on a win? Hmmm. We’ll see.
What’s the matter with you Samuel? This man has given 22 years of his life to Arsenal and you accuse him of selfishness? Crazy!
@ Goonermay68
The “fanbase” may be split but the “supporters” keep supporting. The clue is in the name.
You are quite right though those who don’t actually “support” the team , the club, the manager have allowed themselves to be split by the media and the pundits. The blind leading the blind. Some were foolish enough to believe what they were constantly told by those not qualified to pass judgement. The supporters carried on supporting.
Great article Tony.
Goonermay68 at 9:23 am
You clearly felt a need to get that unkind comment of your chest. It lacked as much generosity as accuracy in describing the history of Arsene’s last few years.
Most of the time I ignore spiteful comments but sometimes I need to react because there is a certain therapeutic feeling in doing so. Also it serves as a reminder that unfortuantely people like you exist.
Tony, well done. You have spoken well, as always, from your heart and without ambiguity.
I must say that I share your sentiments about Wenger and His achievements in the last 22 years. Those who don’t are entitled to their opinions. But facts are fact, and what he has achieved are clear for all who care to see them. What he didn’t achieve will also always be there to point out by those who have a personal agenda to discredit the man by all means.
Wenger had his faults and they may be quite a few. But, pray, who doesn’t? For those love the man, faults and all, his exit is a sad one. But it is bound to come (his exit) one way or the other.
We can only wish for a manager that will help the team move closer to realising its potential. That is not too much to ask for, is it?
Thanks Tony, I agree with what you say and with the sentiments.
I am also a long-term fan, but having gone to very few games.
I have expressed my gratitude in this and other blogs over the last couple of weeks for what Mr W has done for us and for me.
You say he does not know you, but I have no doubt that he has visited these pages many times over the years to enjoy the good things said about his team and himself.
Although he may not know you or me or many fans, personally, his love for the club, must extend to the fans and, therefore he knows and has affection for us all as supporters of something that he has such love and passion for.
For my part, I simply cannot see him being the manager of any club in the future, although I am sure he would be a very popular choice as manager of the French team.
@Pat, Mandy
I’ve been telling for quite a while that Arsene has been alone in the battle against the dark world of PGMO. Completely unarmed in the battle against chauvinism of a special kind.
Arsene was the first non-British manager to conquere England in a way English pundits, media, players, managers and fans hadn’t known it was possible. He introduced a fresh football and life approach in the hermetically closed English football culture, the culture that had deemed itself worth of exporting and never importing anything from the foreigners. Just take a look which pundits are the worst to him: Souness, Shearer, Owen, Sutton… All of them narrow-minded and unsuccessful, mostly thanks to Arsene.
Also, Arsene was the first one to actually bring Arsenal to the same level of Milan, Real, Juventus, Inter… Sorry, above them as his record at Arsenal with each of those European giants is a positive one. Barcelona and Bayern have remained the only European giants we could never handle.
Above all, Arsene broke records while playing brilliant football in the era of their beloved Ferguson. Clough’s record with Forest, Preston’s 19th century record…he broke them all. Imagine saying in 1994 that Arsenal would be known for their beautiful football as Ajax and Barcelona have been. You’d be taken to sanatorium immediately.
All that while being, pardon my French, French.
After Game 50, it was clear they won’t allow him to make a dynasty at Arsenal while spending peanuts on the hidden gems like Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie. Perhaps that’s why they allowed Abramovich and Mansour to change the football landscape at the first place. Arsene was dangerous because he destimulated spending and the biggest football business in the world can feed a whole army of insatiable parazites only if clubs keep spending, spending, spending!
Arsene tried to change his approach after he had (correctly) predicted Spanish domination based around mobile midfielders with immense passing ability. Heart of his team, in his vision, was Cesc Fabregas…who left Arsenal in the most heartless way possible. Rosicky, Hleb, Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin, Wilshere, Cazorla…were supposed to give Arsenal the edge in Europe and in England over old-school midfielders like Vieira, Gilberto Silva and Parlour. It didn’t happen, for many, many reasons. Not enough money (Nasri, Fabregas, Hleb) and too many injuries (Eduardo, Rosicky, Wilshere, Cazorla) were two most important reasons for Arsenal to stay behind City, Chelsea and Man United.
And, when we were up to the challenge, PGMO would rear its ugly head and take points away from us with Brexit-refereeing.
(I’m not saying Arsene didn’t make mistakes because he did. Some issues we have had for a while have never been solved (i.e. physical defensive-minded midfielder has been needed for a decade) and some issues were solved too late (if we had Laca/Auba in 2015-16 to score all those Mesut’s chances). At least our new manager will have two fantastic strikers capable of burning nets across the league aided by a pair of finest playmakers in Mkhitaryan and Mesut.)
Sadly, Arsenal didn’t stay behind Arsene, especially after Dein’s departure. They couldn’t sack Arsene because he had punched well above his weight for over a decade. It might have been that Arsene had realized after that back-to-back referee-inflicted defeats in December 2016 that Arsenal would never win the league with him in charge and, worse, the club would never challenge the perpetrators. Maybe I’m wrong but our 2017 and 2018 away form suggests that something big happened and it probably happened in December 2016.
Whoever takes over at Arsenal has to realize that Trump-loving owner and hilariously named club president won’t be much of use in the battle against PGMO. Raul and Sven have other things to deal with – Sven is there to find cheap gems using his Dortmund knowledge as a cornerstone and Raul, as Mandy pointed out, is a streetwise guy who is there to build bridges with the superagents and to create opportunities for us to get players. We got Mkhitaryan of Raiola and we have been connected with Donnaruma of the same fat agent. We got Aubameyang from Dortmund (after he had acted rather unprofessionally in Dortmund in his last weeks) which is incredible piece of business given how our reputation has deteriorated due to many various reasons.
A new manager will have to understand that he is no supermanager who builds a stadium with his right hand while keeping the team in Top 4 with his left, mostly because Arsenal don’t need a supermanager anymore. That also means that our new manager will have to realize he is not irreplaceable as Arsene had been for two decades. He will have an easier job though, mostly thanks to Arsene, because he won’t have to think about where his players will train and how much gate money Arsenal will receive. He won’t have to think about selling our best players to the rivals and being unable to replace them with players of the same quality due to financial constraints, again, thanks to Arsene.
In a way, a new manager should thank Arsene after every trophy he wins because of the infrastructural growth of Arsenal that happened thanks to Arsene.
Great article Tony, thank you. I too will miss Arsene at Arsenal. Memories of bad games will fade away but Wengerball will be remembered on for generations.
Lovely to see that there’s still a couple of dickheads on here that can’t resist to get a few more digs in at Wenger before he leaves.
Why do we have to deal with these people?! No other team in the whole of the UK has such an god-awful fanbase, I’m getting so sick of reading their constant negativity and insults directed at the club they claim to support.
And I 100% guarantee they won’t stop their interminable criticism and whinging after he leaves; people that live a life of constant negativity and belittling other people don’t just suddenly stop. They will continue to bemoan Wenger for “ruining” the club and/or concentrate on attacking our players now that the scapegoat has left. Not as if they don’t attack our players already, but instead of whinging 90% of the time about Wenger they’ll be whinging primarily about our players.
In some ways it is good that this is a world cup summer because it will take most people’s attention off of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger and allow us all to take a deep breath.
Come mid-July, we can, all the while cherishing our memories of AW (or for some-cherishing his departure), look to the future and hopefully get behind whoever our new manager is. My hope is that this pointless debate ends.
Up the Guns.
Some posters to this blog are just as bad as the trolls who come here once a while. How dumb can they be to think that getting rid of AW would solve all the on and off-field problems of AFC?
Tony set the tone for positive comments yet we have those who would like to remind us how they know the inner workings of AFC and how the latter got fed up with AW by asking him to leave now and not later. Neither the AFC Board or AW have come up with any definitive statement on how the parting of ways evolved.
So why go into winding and unending ramblings to say simply that it was just desserts for AW to be shown the door? I’d settle for the more positive contributions/comments that highlight the great man’s achievements over 22 years rather than his failings in the last 10 years.
One would’ve thought the divide in results over the period indicated significant events that skewed his attainments since the stadium move. Are such things so obscure that we don’t see them or is it because it is the fashion to blame AW for everything gone wrong with AFC? Let AW leave in peace and not in regrets because of such comments.
Josif,
I’m getting the impression you are not going to give the new manager a genuine chance. You appear to have already burdened him and cast AW’s shadow before he has even set foot. Quite how you conclude that he will have an easier job is odd. Managing Arsenal will be a lot of things, but easier isn’t one that I would state. If it was that easy, IG would and could call on pretty much any candidate. Sadly or not (for some) AW is moving on, It’s time we did too because the new manager is going to need our support as much as AW did.
AFC1974, there will be many like Josif who will not give the new manager a chance. Wenger is all they really supported. Let’s hope they also feel the need to move on, so the rest of us can give out full backing to the new man in charge.
Up the Arsenal
Goonermay68 and Samuel…I guess opinions are like arseholes. ..everybody had one.
Alas reading your comments reminded me that all men are not created equal.
a lot of valid points Josif. Self inflicted sometimes, but other things at work.
Just wonder how Josh Kronke will run things? I suspect he will be more hands on, for better or for worse
Thanks Tony. A great read. The sadness is real and tangible. A man told me the other day, ‘I hurt.’ I hurt too.
As someone said describing Mr Wenger last Sunday, ”He built a beautiful house and they kicked him out.”
He’s a good man. He grew up in an area that had seen two world wars, the dna of fallen soldiers cracking under his feet: he wanted football to bring out the beauty in men.
His detractors have made their bed.
A great farewell tribute , Tony , and a very fine read. I am glad that we had the opportunity to witness first hand the brilliance of the man and the great joy he gave us with his different teams that played with beauty .
Most of us here , who are self made successes in life ,through our own endeavours and not through some entitlement or influence , can understand what he was against daily. Soon we will know for sure what he had to endure in his noble quest for the Arsenal.
That he has left an indelible mark in my life , is never in question . I have learned much from his fortitude , graciousness and righteousness . He is indeed a noble yardstick to measure oneself .
As for those who have tried to blemish his achievement , look in the mirror and ask yourselves , what you have achieved in the corresponding 22 years.
Does it make happy reading ?
Do you think you will be happy with his absence ? Best of luck with that you poor sods !
In his last home conference, Arsene thanked David Dein for bringing him to the club. Think Goonermay missed that one
Tony, et al. Thank you for making us more knowledgeable about Arsène Wenger. Through you guys, I am more appreciative of this guy who had put his life and soul into a team I had supported since the 1960s. Football is more than an art; it shapes and moulds your life. I am a better person, I feel, having supported Arsenal with a man like Arsene at the helm.
Goonermay68
10/05/2018 at 9:23 am
You sad sick ignorant ungrateful pillock. You obviously have not got an inkling of football as it was & what Wenger did & brought to change it. I hope you are not allowed in to see live football as it will be a waste of a seat on a moron.
Can I just ask the date when this site will be closing down following the departure of the supreme leader ?
Yes of course you can ask Oleg, although if you did ask it would be an extremely silly question, since the site has had the same banner headline for over 10 years, “supporting the club, the manager and the team.” But sure, go ahead and ask if you wish.
I really hope that we will hear Arsene speak about a very important subjects now that he is not an Arsenal manager anymore. He has already indirectly began to speak about it when he said it was a shame that EPL voted against VAR. But I really hope he will come out publically and speak about how the 49 unbeaten run was ended. IT WAS THE WORST DISGRACE IN ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY!!! I know everyone here know what i am talking about, but i watched it again tonight i am am as furious as ever…. Just have a look : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM747L9Wf8M
What a quaint idea of the site closing !Only a moron and/or imbecile would think that . I think I answered that quite well , don’t you ? Ta very much !
What did those cretins think that we’d do ? Give up on the Arsenal , now that Arsene Wenger is leaving ? Give up on life ? Turn to drugs or drink ?
Or become even chose to become mind numbed zombies or (gasp!) even nightwalkers ? We’ll leave that to you, you silly, little pipsqueaks !
As for me , I will continue to serve my patients with affordable and competent medical care ; nurture two of my children to become dedicated doctors , while nag the other to do his Phd ; and support the Arsenal with the same zest as before ,no matter who the new man is.
And get back to telling jokes on this site ,and making fun of you clowns who claim to be Arsenal fans ! Look forward to dollops of codswallop !
WOO HOO, HOO !
Up the Gunners !
I think that if we could organise a show like this to find out who /whom is the most deluded Arsenal fan is , it would be a huge success !
And there would be an endless stream of wanna-bes !
https://www.gocomics.com/wumo/2018/05/06
You authors of untold Arsenal! We love you! Serious journalism mixed with serious Arsenal support! No more adjectives to describe Arsene. What a man!! Id happily be his son!!!
Everything in life has its time & I have to say Arsene’s time is up. Like he said you can’t be eating champagne & caviar everyday or 10years and then return to sausages during the week and caviar (fa cup) on Saturdays ! Lol we have never had it so good! Only pray for that future. The one thing in life we leave is legacy: children, friends, family achievements which impact lives etc. And what a legacy Le Boss has left!! Wouldn’t find a better run club in a financial position as ours in the land! Arsene is a lyrical genius who always delivers pearls of wisdom: hence his quote about maintaining & caring about the values of the club. That’s what sets us apart from the other riff raff: values. I grew up in Leicester but will never support the foxes. why? Because despite being family friends with the Heskey’s, our family & friends always went to a football matches where Heskey was playing( Martin O’Neill days) and being lauded by the fans whilst people of ethnic minorities were being abused in the stands. None of that at Arsenal. Why? Values! Which is why our fan base is so diverse
The past is the past but it’s lessons stand for eternity. I really believe Wenger was the victim of his early success & racism at the hands of the English establishment. French foreigner, coming over here & winning our trophies?! We will be having none of that – we’d rather give it to a Scot! Watching reruns & referee decisions ( see untold referees section) Arsenal & Arsene would have won many more leagues. Don’t get me started on European league draws! CAN WE DO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THAT PLEASE?! Arsene saw the direction of world football tried to introduce it & what happened : let’s kick them & the referees will support it! Our injury numbers stacked up cos the dinosaur establishment won’t allow it. VaR – since it exposes the PGMO it won’t be allowed. Will be a long time until England win anything because they can’t see the future until it’s too late. Let’s put a STATUE & RENAME A STAND in his honour! I love that man & will miss his public speaking more than ever! Philosophies on life! Looking forward to the future: Gooooneeerrr & red army for life!!!
Re Cup draws – yes we do have notes on the way the semi final draw was accurately announced before it was made. It’s sitting there, just waiting for its moment.