A glorious Gunners revolutionary

Wenger altered team culture but couldn’t sustain momentum in the last decade of his reign

LONDON: 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.