Arsène always said that he would leave it upon others to write the chapters of his history and how he would be remembered in football conversations. I was reluctant to write this piece at first when hearing about his decision to retire. What could I possibly write about the great man without sounding like a broken Sam Smith ‘Stay with me’ record, I’d ask myself? Everything had already been said, I would tell myself. Coupled with the familiar sense of malaise this season has petered out into following the familiar failings in Europe, there was no way I would be conjuring up anything meaningful to write. Yet however, Wenger as he always does seemingly puts everything out there and offers us endless novice scripts to write.
In one of the many interviews, the boss was in form, Wenger talks about how he bequeaths upon himself the responsibility to present the image football has and that of the club. He talks of football as a celebration each week that should capture the imagination of expectant fans every Sunday. As a rule of thumb, the manager’s suit and tie has always to be present in order to capture the essence of this cultural celebration. On a bright Sunday afternoon in North London, clad in an impeccable slim suit, tie and grey cardigan (enough to make Justin Timberlake proud), Wenger appeared past the Emirates tunnel for the last time to a rousing welcome by fans and a guard of honour formed by Arsenal and Burnely players. This was Arsène Wenger as we have always known him, walking looking elegant as ever. We were in Arsène’s world now, the last script in act he would extend.
Yet, in his 228th and final match presiding at home for The Arsenal, Wenger would persuade me to write this piece still, which in many ways epitomized the great allure of the man in carrying everyone alone with him in his vision at any given time. And so, just like the players had to win the Europa League for him, I also HAVE to write this for him in order to send him off the right way now, in my mind and conscience at least. He stood there, in the Emirates, the Stadium he built, at the center with red and white emblazoning the surrounding 60,000 (or to be exact, 59, 867) terraces sprawling all around him. It was Arsène Wenger in a nutshell! A man who is at the epicenter of Arsenal’s history, a man whose very name bears a fortuitous but perhaps symbolic resonance with this great club. With 2 games in his tenure left, Wenger has contributed to 16% of Arsenal’s history as well as 40% of the clubs silverware. Incredibly, Arsène Wenger has also accounted for 26% players to have played for Arsenal in the 132 year history. His place in Arsenal’s annals of history was summed up by a catchy insert in the Arsenal match programme notes that were Wenger to lose Arsenals next 100 games, he would still be the Arsenal manager with the highest win percentage of all managers! I turned 25 on Saturday, the 5th of May. Ever since I was a boy, Arsène is the only Arsenal manager I have known during my formative years and my transition to a man. Wenger and Highbury/the Emirates have been one – like the earth and sky – for 22 years but their journey was at its end in this moment.
As he stood there, he began with an affective remark that oozed everything Arsène represents. In a classy dash, he remembered his greatest rival cum ally putting him first on a day that was his own yet bereft of any ego. He was striking all the right notes early. God knows how many times Wenger in his 22 years at the ‘club of his life’ has machinated ways to finish ahead of Sir Alex and yet, on the occasion of his last ever opportunity to flaunt by pumping out his chest and have the whole world feast in admiration at his resplendent career in management, he reduced himself to merely an appendage. The greatest Arsenal games and moments under Arsène have always been renowned for their Class and having an appreciation of both History and Tradition written all over them. Poignantly, these were all evident here.
Full credit to the Premier League for recognizing Wenger’s achievement to English football and football as a whole by presenting him with a replica of the Golden Premier League trophy he won in 2004. Wenger had admitted last week at Old Trafford that he had been taken aback by the presentation given to him by Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United. By his own admittance, it was the first time in his long enduring career that he had won a trophy before playing the game. This time however, this trophy presentation was far more serious, as it captured his contribution to the footballing landscape. Professing in 2003 of his hypothesis that he could win the Premier League undefeated, he only went and did it a year later in 2004! That year Arsenal stats read Played 38 Won 26 Drawn 12 Lost 0, heralding the moniker the Invincibles, which would inspire a generation. Wenger held the blueprint detailing how football should be played and was always c omitted to winning in style which he views as the responsibility of the biggest clubs. So it was fitting that this ideologue of free flowing, expressive and powerful football be recognized not just sentimentally or ceremonial, as had been the case at Old Trafford, but historically for his genuine laying down of a theory which he empirically verified through a swashbuckling brand of football along the way.
In many ways, this trophy presentation is a quintessential expression of Wenger as a man and as a manager in terms of his name being remembered long after he last guided a team to a title win. It backs up his claim that the ‘Biggest clubs have a responsibility to play with style’. It was this style but also substance, which was in admiration at the Emirates on Sunday and this ensured that even at his nadir, Wenger had done it again as the adulation and above all, the respect still entrusted in him because of his achievements remains intact. Many a time, Arsène has been consigned to defeat by his past – Robin Van Persie and Francesc Fabregas exemplify this. But there would be none of that here, this time his past was his meal ticket back to his zenith; where he belongs, were he has always belonged. In such a moment still, as he held the Gold Trophy aloft for the Emirates oval to see, the lyrics by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus ‘Don’t You Fake it’ seemed only too appropriate at the time. Arsène was teleported back to the best days of his life and one must wonder if he, for a split second at least, regretted leaving Highbury and being more egoistical rather than embarking on a new project when he was poised to genuinely build a dynasty of dominance in English football.
On a lesser note, it was noticeable that club legend Thierry Henry was never at the Emirates. His is a man who once referred to Arsène as being ‘like a father’ to him, so being absent in paying his last respects to the person who helped him become the person he is today is quite a turnaround. There was chatter that Sky Sports wanted him in Manchester were City were being presented with the Premier League trophy, but early signs point to it being a premeditated snub by Henry on this behemoth of a man. It would make it the second snub Henry has dealt to Wenger, again for Pep Guardiola. He did it in 2007 when he chose Pep over Wenger, and became the prodigal son when Wenger re-signed him in 2012 to allow him to further his legend at the club. To do it once is understandable, but to do it twice, even given the different worldviews between Wenger and Henry does not sit right and is short of treachery. The Arsenal fans did their bit by leaving no vacuum in the football stadium, the ex-players, many of whom Henry played with did their bit; with Nwakuo Kanu even flying in all the way from Nigeria, I have done my piece! As fans and as players, we were all aware of our individual and collective responsibilities for Wenger’s big send-off bash. But why wasn’t Henry aware of his? He is the clubs Legend and he should have been there period. He is the one whom I grew up idolizing. I drew him racing past Puyol in Paris when I was 13. He is the one name who you wanted to get printed at the back of your Arsenal shirt. He is the standard bearer for all of Arsenals #14s. And oh hey, he even has his statue outside the stadium which was put there off Wenger’s insistence. Why on such a day could he not recognize the responsibility implicit in his status as the clubs outright legend is anyone’s guess? Even Jeremy Aliadiere was there paying his homage to Arsène. Surely, in this instance this shows that availability is greater than ability. When it was announced he would not be attending, deep down I hoped that the ‘little boy inside him’ I remember who had afro hair would sway him to be part of this mighty send-of, but instead, what we got was the rational, calculated and premeditated snub by the afro-bearded man. A case of Wenger defeated by his past again perhaps?
Arsène Wenger loves his players. That was on show again on Sunday when he put the focus off of him and urged supporters to rally behind the players, who in in his own words are ‘a special group’; next season. After a week were Arsenal lost a semi-final in Madrid, meaning the players had not done enough to ensure their manager left with silverware for this season, this was classic Wenger- defending his players to the guillotine, to the very end. However, it is a sad indictment that Arsène’s lot in life appears to be that of a man that always sticks rather than twist and this invariably comes back to hurt him. As Henry showed through his snub and as many players have been questioned over in the last decade. There appears to be a deep seated culture at Arsenal that rewards only the players but not the manager, specifically, not Arsène. Henry leaving Wenger exposed on his day of days is perhaps indicative of the current Arsenal’s players own shortcomings as there is a general conception that they do not do nearly enough to repay the trust that this idyll manager has in them, and for which he has been openly criticized. We now know the truth Arsène!
Arsenal and Arsène are the only club and manager I will love unconditionally. This club has guided me through some of my best [and worst] moments as an individual. Yet, one will stick to memory forever. Arsenal, for some reason always seem to go hand in hand with my mood. In this instance, I was 18 years old and writing my GCE A’ Levels. It was the 2011/12 season, and for that period during October – November, Arsenal propelled me through my strenuous examinations. Our match days read:
16 October 2011; Arsenal- Sunderland (2-1)
19 October 2011; Marseille – Arsenal (0-1)
23 October 2011; Arsenal – Stoke (3-1)
25 October 2011; Arsenal – Bolton (2-1)
29 October 2011; Chelsea – Arsenal (3-5)
1 November 2011; Arsenal – Marseille (0-0)
5 November 2011; Arsenal – West Brom (3-0)
19 November 2011; Norwich – Arsenal (1-2)
23 November 2011; Arsenal – Dortmund (2-1)
That was it. I was done with my exams. 11 papers in 33 hours and my team had played 9 matches over that period winning 8 and drawing the 1 – the perfect tonic. As I am someone whose reading and understanding was contingent on my mood, Arsenal played a big part in my final results which read 2 A*’s, 2 A’s 1B. It is these moments were football and life under Arsène Wenger seamlessly intertwined. It was an ethereal experience, as if my team was somewhat rooting for me as I was rooting for it- a beauty which Wenger speaks of when he talks about how football is at is most beautiful when disparate people unite to express a common idea. This transcends not just the players on the pitch but resonates within all us who hold Arsenal dear, we feel it, ‘the vibration is there’ Arsène. I am certain every Arsenal fan all the world over has experienced them and knows what I am talking off – those bigger than life moments that left you in a rarefied universe were you take the best of Arsène Wenger’s teams. I certainly felt it in those testing months, as a mystical fiery like force that fueled my examination bid. It is at such moments that any Ode to Arsène echoes what most of us think – which is that he made us all believe that we too could be Invincible. And so goals by van Persie & van Persie; Ramsey; Gervinho, van Persie, van Persie; Arshavin, Park; van Persie, Santos, Walcott, van Persie & van Persie [hat trick]; van Persie, Vermaelen, Arteta; van Persie & van Persie; van Persie & van Persie – meant my bond with this particular Wenger team was struck.
Thank you for the players Arsène. For Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Bould, Winterburn, Keown, Viera, Merson, Platt, Hartson and Ian Wright. Thank you for Parlour, Bergkamp, Garde, Morrow, Lukic, Linighan, Shaw, McGowan, Marshall, Hughes and Rose. Thank you for Harper, Selley, Anelka, Petit, Boa Morte, Wreh, Crowe, Vernazza and Manninger. We thank you Arsène for Mendez, Upson, Muntasser, Rankin, Diawara, Vivas, Ljungberg, Riza, Grondin, Caballero and Michael Black. We thank you for Kanu, Luzhny, Silvinho, Henry, Suker, Malz, Cole, Tommy Black, Weston, Pennant and Barret. Thank you for Gray, McGovern, Lauren, Pires, Wiltord, Canoville, Taylor, Volz, Stepanovs, Danilevicius and Edu. Thanks for Sol Campbell, van Bronckhorst, Jeffers, Inamoto, Richard Wright, Halls, Itonga, Ricketts, Tavlaridis, Aliadiere and Svard. Thanks for Juan, Gilberto Silva, Toure, Cygan, Garry, Shaaban, Bentley, Hoyte, Lehmann, Stack and Spicer. Thank you for Jerome Thomas, for Quincy Owusu-Adeyie, Clichy, for Fabregas, Ryan Smith, Simek, Skulason, Papadopulos, Reyes, for Mathieu ‘yellow card’ Flamini and van Persie. Thanks for Larsson, Karbassiyoon, Djorou, Almunia, Lupoli, Senderos, Cregg, Eboue, Hleb, Stokes, Muamba and a Song. Thanks Arsène for Lord Bendtner, Gilbert, Diaby, Adebayor, for the Little Mozart Rosicky, for ‘sign da ting’ Walcott, Baptista, Gallas, Connolly and Denilson. We thank you for Randall, Traore, Matt Poom, Sagna, Eduardo, Diarra, Fabianski, Merida,Barazite, Gibbs, Lansbury and Carlos ‘chip’ Vela. We thank you for Mr F.A Ramsey, for Nasri, Vela, for Wilshere, Coquelin, Gavin Hoyte, Jay Simpson, Silvestre, Bischoff, Fonte, and Rodgers. Thank you for Mannone, four goal salvo Arshavin, Vermaelen, Sunu, Szczesny, Watt, Eastmond, Bartley, Cruise, Chamakh, for Koscielny, Squillaci and Emmanuel-Thomas. Thanks Arsène for Frimpong, Miquel, Henderson, for Gervinho, Jenkinson, the Ox, Arteta, for Benayoun and for the Big Friendly German. We thank you for Andre Santos, Aneke, Miyaichi, Ozyakup, for Park Chu-Young, Boateng, Yennaris and Santi Cazorla. Thank you for Mr ‘Bullet header’ and Scorpion King Giroud, for Podolski, Angha, Gnabry and Martinez, Eisefield, Meade, Sanogo, Akpom and for Nacho. Thanks you for Mesut Ozil, Olsson, for Bellerin, Hayden, Joel Campbell, Chambers, Zelalem, Kim Kallstrom and Debuchy. Thanks Arsène for the red hot Chilean Alexis, for ‘that guy’ Welbeck and Ospina, Maitland-Niles, O’Connor, Gabriel , Iwobi and ’15 points a season’ Cech. Thanks for Kamara, Bannacer, Bielik, Reine-Adelaide, for Elneny, Holding and Xhaka, for Mustafi, Perez and Chris Willock. We forever thank you for Alexander Lacazette, Kolasinac, Reiss Nelson, Dasilva, Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah and McGuane. For Sheaf, Macey and with thanks for Mavrapanos, Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang!
For the banners – In Arsène We Trust. Football Should Be an Art. Class, History Tradition. Le Professeur. One Arsène Wenger! Forever in your debt Arsène Wenger. Arsenals Greatest Manager. For the memories of That Bergkamp goal against Newcastle, Walcott Hat tricks, Henry kissing the turf at Highbury, the 7-3 vs. Newcastle, Welbeck’ comeback goal against Leicester, being a victim of ageism, shoving Josè, for the Scorpion kick, Giroud’s beard, Henry’s beard for Petit, Seaman and Bellerin’s ponytails, Coquelin and Santi pivot, Ozil hat trick in Bulgaria, Girouds hat trick in Piraeus, for Bergkamp’s goal vs. Leicester and his testimonial at the Emirates. Memories of the Emirates Cup wins, playing Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Porto and Benfica in the Emirates cup. For Pizza gate, introducing a new diet and lasagna gate. The £40 million pounds + £1 pound. Cech vs. Bayern, that performance at the Etihad, the Ox’s Wembly bullet for giving us Xhaka-Laca. The initiation songs, losing your voice, the 7-5 at Reading, Giroud and Coquelin throwing their shirts away before time, Chamakh’s hair gel. Building the Emirates, Islington town council, for JVC, Kanu’s hattrick, Pires North London record, the glorious exits. Henry not losing a North London Derby, beating Josè for the first time Adams drinking problem, Freddie’s pink hair, Zlatan does not do trials, I nearly signed Ronaldo. The laps of honour – 22 of them. Dreamcast, Arteta’s perfect hair. He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants, Robin Van Persie, he scores when he wants. Arsenal Centurions, Wright eclipsing Bastian, Henry eclipsing Wright, Henry’s curler in Slavia Prague, Bergkamp becoming a centurion, Henry’s run against Spurs, Henry side-stepping one and side-stepping two vs. Liverpool on Easter Friday, Walcott and Giroud Centurions, Nasri’s goals vs. Fulham, RVPs century Arshavins 4-goal salvo, Wiltoooooooooord! Adams vs. Everton, Vieira’s penalty kick, the last minute goals, O2, Henry’s header vs. Man United in the Emirates, Henry scores v. Bathez from a throw-in, Henry’s free kick v. Chelsea, Henry 0 goals in finals, van Persie’s volleys, Songs lifts it up for van Persieeeeeeee, Adebayor vs. Spurs, Ramsey circa 2013/14, the three 1nil wins at Old Trafford, Adebayooooor, Overmars; Vantastic. Rosicky goals v. Spurs, I tried to watch their game from my hotel but I fell asleep. Aubameyang’s first goal and Lacazette’s second touch against Leicester. Hlebs runs, playing Ramsey at right wing, playing Wilshere at right wing. Overmars, van Bronckhorst, Henry, Hleb, Cesc, Song, Vermaelen to Barca, the double fist celebrations, Sagna’s thumping header v. Spurs winning 6-1 at Everton, that night in Paris, Campbell header, the Red Card, first English side to win in the Bernabeu, 4-2-3-1, the thumbs up to the fans after defeat that night v. Swansea. Giroud’s acrobatics at Selhurst, Fabregas playing Vieira off the park, Lehmann’s penalty save, the clean sheets, beating Juventus, beating Milan at the San Siro, the free kicks, Henry’s Hattrick in Rome. The struggle to finish 4th, Fly Emirates, dressing room selfies. RVP smashing one past Valdez Koscielny closing day goals to secure fourth, that Gibbs tackle at West Brom, Koscienly’s goal v. Southampton, signing Alexis Sanchez from a beach in Rio, for the successive 5-1 defeats to Bayern, the vava voom, the one man stand at Old Trafford, van. Persie flying at Charlton, that van Persie left foot, Rosicky’s turns and acceleration, Vermaelen’s leaps, Giroud’s bullet headers, Walcott’s run at Anfield, Santi’s ambidextrous dancing feet, Ozil’s vision, Denilson’s samba dance, Vela’s lobs, Girouds side footed one touch finishes, Nicolas Anelka’s addition, Baptista’s 4-goal salvo. Ramsey’s pile driver at Galatasaray. Coining the term ‘financial doping’. Bellerin’s run against Bayern. The trophy drought, Drogba the scourge of Arsenal, Diaby v. Villa, 70th minute substitutions, Keown and van Nistelrooy, Keane and Vieira, Wenger and Fergie, Arsenal and Manchester United. Beating Josè for the second time. Winning trophies again, Fabianski’s heroics, touchline bust-ups. Santi Cazorla chooses the perfect time to score his first free kick for Arsenal, Ramsey winner, Pires’ assists, Cesc’s assists, Ozil assisting, Henry’s assist record. The number 10’s, Xhaka a deep lying number 10. Santi a 10. Ramsey at 10 playing 8. Wilshere a 10 behind the 10. Mkhitaryan a 10 off the wing. Ozil a ten in the hole, Iwobi a 10 that drift. It’s a world of tens. 10-2 vs. Bayern. Back at Wembly again, the community shield, charity finals. 4 Back to back FA Cups, the 3 at the back (3atb), winning against all the odds. Chelsea 3 – van Persie 3….Arsenal 5 at Stamford Bridge, Per’s lack of pace exposed, Arteta’s goal against City, Welbeck at Old Trafford, Ozils free kick vs. Liverpool, Giroud turning Kolo Toure. Ray Parlour’s cup winner, another Ramsey cup winner. Eddie Nketiah’s brace. Never winning the League Cup – Worthington cup, Coca-Cola cup, Carling Cup, Capital One Cup, EFL Cup, the Carabao Cup in its various guises. Xhaka’s ferocious shot, Wilshere dominating Xavi and Iniesta. Predicting the first £100 million transfer Podolski the fan favorite, Walcott on a stretcher taunting Spurs fans, Wilshere at the parade taunting Spurs fans, back to back 5-2, , competing with oil money. Nurturing the kids. Your dignity, your humility, your 222 players, your 7 FA Cups, the double Double, the Gold Trophy, your 49 games, Henry’s 228 goals, Wengerball on display vs. Norwich, Giroud flick, Wilshere’s goal. For Sanchez 4-goals salvo at West Ham, his chip vs. Chelsea, Sanchez false 9, Fabregas at false 9, Fabregas’ goals v. Villa when carrying an injury and on as a sub, Walcott’s first goal at Wembly, Henry’s comeback goal vs. Leeds, Koscielny lets in Obafemi Martins, Henry’s goal at Sunderland, Arshavins brace vs. Blackburn, struggling against Bolton, beating Stoke every time at home, Ramsey scoring vs. Stoke Faith in Almunia, re-signing Lehmann, Spurs finishing 3rd in a 2 horse race. Bottling at Wigan. Cech’s penalty save. Being ruthless with Szczesny, signing France 98’ top scorer Davo Suker. The 4-4 at St James’, Anfield, the Emirates, the 3-3 at Anfield and the Emirates, the 4-3 defeat and 4-3 win on opening days. Cech’s cleansheet record. Playing with the handbrake on, tying Ozil down, the opening day defeats. Lord Bendtner better than Messi, Henry vs. Inter, the word ‘Dench’, signing an injured player in January, signing Mkhitaryan in January, Aubameyang the partying gift. The slip at Stoke, kicking water bottles, the 8-2, the rivalry with the zipper, I didn’t see it, the excuses, blaming the referee’s, saying look-aarr in the press conferences, your perfect hair, Captain Vermaelen, Captain Arteta, Captain Mertesacker, She wore a yellow ribbon and Wembly. Signing Ozil on deadline day, physically we were a bit short. Make Arsenal great again, P38 W26 D12 L0. The French Revolution era, the deadwood. The Spanish tiki-taka era, Japanese Sumo, the efficient German era. The ‘British Core’ – Ramsey, Wilshere, Jenkinson, Walcott, Oxlade-Chambelain. RVP’s curler v. Spurs. Bit coin deal, impeccable on the match day!
Arsène Wenger, for chairing the AGMs, having a name fitting and somewhat appropriate for the club, for treating the club as your own and being criticized for doing so, for being the boss, for putting on hold your family life, for being a permanent male figure in our lives, for berating the fourth officials, for scratching your hair on the bench, for your head in hands moment at Anfield, for playing with your lips at the Amex, for your stunning career, for penny-pinching, for loving a bargain, for being a gifted orator for being French, for being an Economist, for speaking 7 languages, for wearing glasses, for being an Arsenal fan, for the humor, for capturing our imagination, for cementing your legacy, for being our greatest ever manager, for being an incredible human being and a gentleman, for being our legend, for instilling the club culture, for the values and traditions, for your integrity, for your dedication, for the complete commitment, for the energy, for your passion, for your loyalty, for the competence, for serving with sincerity, for the idealism, for your faith, for your purist ideas, for your perfection, for handling yourself with class, for giving us Wengerball, for masterminding the Emirates, for the 4th place finishes, for 22 years, for 21 full seasons, for qualifying for the Champions League for 18 consecutive seasons, for managing 1235 games, for 706 wins, 476 Premier League victories, for 1560 goals scored in the Premier League and 2,298 overall; for 10 major trophies won, for the Golden Boots and Golden Gloves, for being the most successful manager in FA Cup History, for the back to back FA Cups, for the double Double, for the 49 unbeaten and for turning mere mortals into INVINCIBLES, we say to you that for these and other things, FOR EVERYTHING Merci Arsène; Thank You Arsène Wenger!
The memory of Wenger as the star attraction on show in his own stadium will be one for the ages. With his high notes, he danced his way into our hearts for the umpteenth and final time. And he did so in front of the fans and former players who abused him, vilified him and had disrespected him, some confronted him in an alien form. As he stood in the center of the Emirates with the crowd surrounding him, Arsène bore shades of a dancer pirouetting within the eye of the storm, therefore not being moved or overwhelmed by the gravitas of the occasion – only he would have been the man for such an occasion. Arsenal’s heritage is inspired by the motto ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’, which is Latin for ‘Victory Comes from Harmony’. This meant that there would be no One Man Stands for Arsène in his house this time as the Emirates, in quite picturesque fashion, arose to salute its greatest ever manager serenaded with chants of ‘One Arsène Wenger’ and rightfully so. Shades of nostalgia were creeping in, tightening its grip as well as a sense of what could have been. Jim Croce captures the mood superbly when he sings, “Time in a bottle”. From 1997-2005, Wenger built a footballing machine, which, at its apex culminated in the Invincibles. Yet for most of us, we took this for granted thinking it would remain a given that Arsenal and Arsène would continue sweeping all before them – if only we could save that time in a bottle and recreate it again! But as Wenger came out and said, not all love stories have a happy ending and that in itself is footballs timeless currency- on the one hand fantasy, beyond fantasy and on the other; dismay and disappointments. As Arsenal enter an uncharted territory, there is a new script to be had. Posterity will hail Wenger as the greatest Arsenal manager that ever was. But after 22 years with each other, it will perhaps take Celine Dion’s ‘Because you loved me’ track to help recreate for present as well as for future generations – what both club and manager felt…for one last time…in this moment.
Au Revoir
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