So this weekend is apparently Wengers 1000th game in charge.
I think its a great acheviement personally and that English football owes him a debt of gratitude. He revolutionised the English game and it was only when other sides started to adopt his methods that English sides truely became competitive in Europe once again (ironically the biggest hole in his own CV). He has kept Arsenal competitive throughout his entire tenture whilst also carefully managing their finances through the stadium development years.
You can say what you like about his recent 'lack' of success but the English game would have been much much poorer had he not moved to Arsenal in 1998. I think he also deserves credit for his conduct. Occasionally losing his temper in the heat of the moment (who doesnt, I've lost many a keyboard to Champ Man never mind real footy!) but nearly always conducts himself with dignity, and shows respect, the polar opposite of his opposite number tomorrow strangely. I'm sure he could have chased the big contracts and mega budget clubs ala Mourinho and will almost certainly end his career with fewer trophies, but as a man its Wenger for me every time.
So well done Arsene and thank you for what you've brought to English football.
Arsene Wenger
posted on 21/3/14
His methods of training, fitness monitoring, scouting were, at the time, ahead of the game.
Teams in England didnt dominate Europe until they had caught up with Arsenal in this respect. Training, talent scouting, fitness monitoring, diets
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It was common for footballers to train and then spend all evening down the pub. Wenger cut out all this, changed the diets, banned smoking etc etc brought in fit, athletic players that could run for 90+3 minutes end to end, everybody else followed.
posted on 21/3/14
He was ahead of his time (for England which was still backward), and without him I doubt the likes of Rodgers and Martinez would be managing on Merseyside.
His first 6-7 years were brilliant. He built great teams, played superb football and changed the landscape of English football for the better.
His last 10 years have been distinctly average, he has too much control and his methods are no longer cutting edge.
I also don't agree concerning his conduct. He is a good winner (when he used to win) but an abysmal loser, and the number of red cards his teams have picked up and his ignorance when they arrive show he is not the nice man he is made out to be.
One of the great managers in English football in my lifetime, but also a flawed individual whose failure on the European stage leaves a permanent mark against his name.
posted on 21/3/14
Didn't English teams dominate Europe when Wenger was just a lad? I mean 77 / 78 / 81/ 84 Villa in 82 Forrest in 79 and 80?
Good manager but he's very lucky he was at Arsenal for all these years of no success. He'd have lost his job at allot of other clubs.
posted on 21/3/14
His impact on the professional culture of English football has been discussed many times but arguably it's his legacy within this country. Would that culture of changed anyway? Probably, the influx of money would have ensured it, but he certainly escalated it and in this sense he was great for football in England.
He's also built a number of fantastic teams and whilst some people cite his slavish adherence to a style of play as a weakness, it's also one of the reasons I respect him and have enjoyed watching Arsenal through the years. They play the type of football I enjoy watching.
He's not a good loser but very few top managers (or indeed players) are good losers so I don't think that's too much of an issue. You'd struggle to catalogue all the incidents that he didn't see though!
1000 games is a great achievement in modern times however and whatever people may say about Arsenal relative lack of success recently I agree with the OP, he's been a positive influence on football in England.
posted on 21/3/14
Every time i think of Wenger i see him trying to do that stupid jacket up
posted on 21/3/14
indeed thanks for forgetting that winning matters.
thanks for getting rid of the kicking and fighting and red cards and all the small players who keep getting injured and finally sincerely thanks for 2003 and 2004 where the football was a joy
posted on 21/3/14
What result do you guys want from this game?, I can see Arsenal winning this personally.
posted on 21/3/14
Arsenal winning at Chelsea? Nah.
I want a draw, but suspect Chelsea will win 1-0 or 2-0.
Mourinho doesn't lose home games, and Arsenal don't win big games
posted on 21/3/14
I will add though, that if Arsenal do manage to win, they will win the title IMO.
posted on 21/3/14
I hope he nuts Maureen tomorrow. Certainly deserves it for his prissy press conferences about Arsene recently.