A glorious Gunners revolutionary
When Arsenal appointed Arsene Wenger as their manager in 1996 there were no shortage of sceptics, wondering what exactly in the Frenchman’s past made him suitable for such a prestigious role. His playing career was barely noticed and as a manager it had been eight years since he had won his only French league title with Monaco.
The Arsenal squad Wenger inherited had been assembled by George Graham, a charismatic and tough Scotsman who made the quietly spoken and studious new arrival appear an incongruous figure. Even before he officially took over, Wenger was shaping the revolution he was to lead, instructing vice-chairman David Dein, who was the key figure behind bringing Wenger to the club, to buy French midfielders Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.
Wenger then set about altering the culture of a team that was among the most traditionally English, changing diets, training methods and playing style.
Wenger wanted to see something different and, encouraged by Dein, understood that there was plenty that English football could learn from France, who two years later would become world champions. Vieira was a revelation, powering from box-to-box in midfield, and the introduction of French forward Nicolas Anelka and Dutch winger Marc Overmars helped the Gunners win the 1998 Premier League and FA Cup double -their first since 1971.
Brilliant as they were, Arsenal did not have it all their own way as Manchester United rose to the challenge winning three consecutive titles from 1999, with Wenger’s side second on each occasion. vs Everton (May 2005) vs Middlesbrough (January 2006), vs
Slavia Prague (October 2007). vs Man Utd (August 2011) vs Chelsea (March 2014) in his 1000th game in charge. of Arsenal's trophies under Wenger were picked up in the Frenchman's first 10 years at the club (11 out of 17). Physical and uncompromising out of possession; sublimely elegant with the ball at his feet – Vieira at his best was a phenomenon, guiding the Gunners to three Premier League titles and four FA Cup triumphs over the course of 406 appearances. His void was never adequately filled after he left in 2005. Community Shield UEFA Cup/Europa League A bright but seemingly brittle talent became the most feared forward in European football. He left for Barcelona in 2007 as a two-time Premier League champion and three-time winner of the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award. He is Arsenal's all-time record goalscorer with 228 in 377 matches. League Cup FA Cup Champions League Signed for £6m from Marseille in 2000, he wasinitiallyan underwhelming replacement for Dutch winger Marc Overmars. He preceded Thierry Henry's FWA wins by taking the gong in 2001-02. Alongside Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp and Henry, he was the final piece in the puzzle of the Invincibles attacking line. Champions League Wenger became the first foreign manager to win the double in England when he led Arsenal to Premier League and FA Cup success in 1997- 98, his second season at the helm. In 2003-04, his 'Invincibles' team went through the whole Premier League without defeat to win the title. Arsenal won 26 games and drew 12, conceding just 26 goals in 38 matches. Arsenal were the first top-flight team to achieve it since Preston North End had managed it 115 years prior and the first to do so in the 38-game era. Arsenal suffered a blow when Anelka was allowed to join Real Madrid in 1999. Wenger had planned to sign Thierry Henry to pair with Anelka. Henry though proved to be a matchwinner. In eight seasons, he scored 174 Premier League goals and 226 in all competitions, passing Ian Wright to become the club’s top scorer and earning himself a statue outside Emirates. Wenger led Arsenal back to top with his second double in 2001-02. The Gunners only lost three Premier League matches all season en route to the title. They ultimately took the crown from defending champions
United at Old Trafford, winning 1-0. Four days earlier, Arsenal had beaten rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup final in Cardiff, late goals from Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg proving decisive. He was a Premier League winner in his first season at Highbury and again in 2003-04. He played alongside club greats Tony Adams and Martin Keown before his alliance with Kolo Toure. He helped Arsenal go 995 minutes without conceding a Champions League goal en route to a 2-1 final defeat against Barca in 2006. Premier League Manager of the Season: 1998, 2002, 2004
France's Football Manager of the Year: 2008
END OF AN ERA Wenger altered team culture but couldn’t sustain momentum in the last decade of his reign LONDON:
I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years. I managed the club with full commitment and integrity. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.
He arrived for a paltry £2.75m from Feyenoordin2004 but turned himself into a complete centre-forward. He scored 132 times in 278 games for the Gunners – his phenomenal 37 across all competitions in 2011-12 leading to the FWA and PFA Player of the Year awards before Manchester United came calling.