3 7 49 151 473 704 1228 1549 1996
He ripped up our elite’s established coaching manual, from diet, to tactics, to playing style.
Wenger introduced a host of fabulous foreigners, often from across the channel, who rewrote the Premier League record books.
And he oversaw the creation of a new state-of-the-art 68,000-seater stadium in the heart of Islington.
Yet, amid all those sweeping alterations to the landscape in the capital and beyond, there is one thing that never changed. Pressure.
Pressure to perform, pressure to win, pressure to keep the punters, the pundits – and the press – happy.
Way back in October 1996, shortly before he officially took charge of the Gunners, the then unknown Wenger defended his soon-to-be new players, claiming “the pressure on them is unfair”.
And it was pretty much the same last Thursday when he held court with the Sunday newspapers – only 24 hours before the club’s shock announcement that one of the most famous managers in England would be standing down at the end of this season.
More than two decades on, the intense burden of expectation on him and his stars to deliver every week remains a constant theme.
Discussing techniques for raising the current squad’s deflated spirits, Wenger, 68, said: “We have to accept criticism. We are in a job where we can’t demand that people, when you make mistakes, say it’s absolutely wonderful.
“That’s part of Arsenal. Like when I lose games, I have to accept it.
“Players can forget quickly how good they are and you remind them they are not as a bad as people think and that nothing is permanent.
“Even if you go through a spell which is a bit more difficult, you can always come out of it. You remind them what’s happening is not definite and it’s just a thing we can have an influence on.”
On reflection, and knowing now that he realised he had barely 22 days left in charge at The Emirates, these are poignant words.
And clear evidence of what him a lot, he was like a father figure to me who always pushed me to be the best. Arsene, you deserve all the respect and happiness in the world. FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS SIR ALEX FERGUSON
In an era where football managers sometimes only last one or two seasons, it shows what an achievement it is to serve that length of time at a club the size of Arsenal. He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come in the last four seasons. Premier League losses. wins to date as Arsenal boss. Premier League goals scored.
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He was and is still an influencer in football. He’s had a fantastic career, is an outstanding personality and is very successful. Maybe in the last few months not everyone was happy but he was the dominating guy in the mid-90s-2000s. He was always a big role model and it will be very different without him.