Wenger’s the architect of his own woes
TODAY Arsene Wenger starts his 21st season as Arsenal manager in pursuit of the title that has eluded him since his eighth campaign.
He’s had his usual summer, which meant very little voluntary transfer activity – another ball-playing midfielder and a kid for the future – before injuries to defenders forced him to consider spending some money.
He’s been talking about how ridiculous fees are these days and reflecting on how the Premier League has become a “world championship of managers.”
Back in September, 1996 – when Arsenal sacked Bruce Rioch and appointed the unknown Frenchman – Wenger’s working environment was very different.
The Premier League had just one foreign boss – Ruud Gullit, who’d just taken charge of Chelsea.
Wenger took Arsenal to third place that season and among his rivals in the top eight were Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle, Roy Evans (Liverpool), Brian Little (Aston Villa), David Pleat (Sheffield Wednesday) and Joe Kinnear ( Wimbledon).
Other Premier League bosses at the time were Jim Smith (Derby), Dave Bassett (Nottingham Forest) and Tony Parkes (Blackburn).
He’s now the elder statesman of the League and he’s fallen into the habit that affects all of us of a certain age. He talks wistfully about the good old days.
In Wenger’s case, that’s an era when managers won titles through coaching ability, shrewd under-theradar signings and more or less balanced the books.
He was one of the prime agents of change in English football. He brought innovation on the field and off it, introducing new-fangled sports science and a playing style that echoed both the French national centre at Clairefontaine and Barcelona.
It brought him three quick titles and built the foundations for a dynasty that’s lasted two decades.
But there’s been a suspicion that the man who did so much to set the Premier League on the road to financial world domination has been swallowed up by the monster he helped create.
A few years ago he described the money available to Manchester City and Chelsea as “financial doping”.
He has refused to play the game and it has cost him in terms of titles and reputation.
As he starts another season, Gunners fans are divided. There are as many “Time To Go” banners as those old “In Arsene We Trust” flags.
With his contract up next summer, this may be his last season and chances are he won’t win the League. But whatever happens, we’ll miss him when he’s gone.