So that was Arsene’s last home game. Fabulous weather, a clean sheet, five fine goals to the good guys, a warm atmosphere and nothing but positives on an afternoon never to forget. Saying goodbye is not easy, both for the person leaving and for those who are left behind. But it gets a bit easier when you know that the departing man is always welcome at the club, and that he will always be a fan of Arsenal. He may be saying goodbye but the Arsenal hall of immortality is saying hello, come in.
Arsene has done so much for the mighty red and white that he will be remembered for decades at least. It will take some manager to settle at Arsenal and win three league titles, seven FA Cups and go a season – and eventually 49 games – unbeaten whilst playing sublime, attacking football – the Arsenal Way!
On top of all that, with Ashburton Grove he left behind a physical legacy; and with the reputation of our football and values, he achieved an immaterial legacy too. Together they make us very strong on all fronts. Arsene will always be remembered for structurally turning our football club into a sexy and financially-secure football club with a pearl of a stadium, to rival the best in the PL as well as in Europe for many years to come.
The next manager will get to work with a set of fabulous players and a decent enough budget to strengthen the team intelligently. Wenger knows he is leaving something special behind for a new manager with fresh vision, tactical excellence and bags of energy to take over the baton from him- as all heroes have to do at some point – and push the club all the way to the top.
Arsene is of course sad to leave, and sadness is what most of us felt on Sunday, but soon that deep feeling of satisfaction of having left behind a legacy will settle in for him and us again. As mere mortals the highest achievement on earth is leaving behind a legacy, and, whatever happens next, nobody will ever take this away from him.
Thank you Arsene.
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
Re JW’s previous post. Can you imagine the look of disgust on Wenger’s face if it is Arteta who is to replace him? Never, ever going to happen. Respect is a key value at Arsenal.
We are not a playground but a football club that needs to reconnect to the top of the PL and Europe within 1-2 seasons. Arteta is a no.2 and has no management experience – he is sitting in the shadow of a great manager and carries his water bottles. Just not going to happen.
TA, well done. Every opportunity should be used to say “Thank you Asene”.
I’ve never seen the Emirate so beautiful. It was dressed up in red and white and wengerbsll. Something was in the air. It was respect, gratitude, love, pride and the sorrow of parting.
Dissolution is inherent in all compounded things was Buddha’s last statement before he breathed his last. Sunday was merely a process in nature. Nature is always lovely.
And the Wengerbsll …. I haven’t seen that quality for a long long time. It shows what a right atmosphere can do to a team. It suddenly became obvious that Wenger had assembled a fabulous squad. Rebuilding out please, we would simply do some retouching. I can sense that Wenger is worried that the squad can be decimated. I hopr we’d be smart enough to know that the grass on the other hill aint any greener.
TA, i think a lot of Arteta not least because Wenger respected him hugely. The dressing room also respected and loved him. Pep left all his old associates and hired him because he saw something special in him. He needed the right man to guide him through the complex epl city. Obviously there is a new management structure at Arsrnal. The managers influence beyond the field would be minimal. That’s why they are not likely to bring big name managers like Ancelotti
It’s your blog TA. Your rules.
But IMO? AW would approve.
Wenger was quoted by The Independent on April 19th (one week before Arsene announced his departure)– speaking here about Patrick Vieira– and also alluding to, I’ll assume, Mikel Arteta:
“He’s a guy (Vieira) who has the potential one day, yes,” he said. “I’ve followed his managerial career. I think he does very well. But overall, this Premier League is special, you know.
“There are plenty of former players who played here who have potential and the intelligence and the knowledge to do it. So there’s plenty of choice, don’t worry about that.”
This sounds more like an endorsement of the possibility than not.
jw1
PE, my friend, Arteta speaks both Spanish and English and is a nice bloke…. hence, the man whose English and knowledge of the PL was limited, hired his ideal nr.2. An assistant manager seldom or never becomes a successful first team manager and it would be a massive risk. It is not just a case of getting a bloke we like and knows the club to do the management job; as per my post a week or so ago (that only AB took seriously), getting the manager right is both hard and crucial right now. Arteta is a pipe-dream. Never going to happen.
If Kroenke was to allow the other three non-football managers to dominate the football affairs, we really would be in pile of shite. But a) Kroenke is not that stupid and b) I don’t believe the others are hoping to get a minnow like Arteta so they will have their power positions secured.
It does not say anything, JW. Come on my friend. Wenger talks in riddles there and if you want it to suit your theory, you are my guest on this blog, of course, but I am not going to take anything from that statement. I just don’t think you are getting the importance of the decision by even considering Arteta. I wrote a serious blog about the background considerations. Arteta dos not fit the bill. No way.j
But if that is what you believe then you are my guest. Democracy and all that. 🙂
Six months for Koz…. Now that is say news. Back in November would not be bad for us, though.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44037918
Thanks for the article which is a succinctly put aggregation of nearly all of the emotions of that day. The occasion was made beautiful by the unity of all present, fans and rivals alike; precisely what Wenger craved for the fan base….and the recent absence of which hastened his decision to quit with games to go.
Arsene is a legend, not just of the club, but of the game, worldwide. His presence of mind to start his speech with that get well message to his big rival during his early years in the EPL had a nice touch to it and the members of the Invincibles squad who made it to the stadium added colour and great memories. Most 20 year olds knew no other manager than Wenger and it must be ver6 hard for them to take in, even if that is the crowd most influenced by the Wenger out narrative of the media and some blogs. He is a class act, Wenger and this was again emphasized by John Cross of the Mirror, on behalf of sports writers. Then, handing the manager that special gold EPL trophy for going a season unbeaten? What a gesture!
If Herbert Chapman, who passed on in the 1930s (1934 ?), can still be spoken of in such glowing terms, I think Wenger will certa8nly attain some semblance of “immortality”, as far as Arsenal FC goes.
As for Arteta, true Wenger had (still does) great respect for his technical knowledge and often referred to him as “my technical leader”, but being manager of Arsenal right after Arsene will be a step up and hard act to follow for a recently retired footballer. The club may not go for a big manager but they will get someone already on the job, has won things and is willing to work within budget restrictions plus accommodate youth. That will be neither of Arteta nor Vieira. Maybe somet8me in the future, but not just now.
Sad one for Koscielny. You could tell he knew he would miss the World Cup, the way he reacted, banging on the floor in frustration. Well, let’s hope he still has it in him when he returns.
Appreciate at least TA– being simply disagreed with.
Eris– and why I also mentioned Leo Jardim in my post on the previous blog. He too fits the profile I’ve expressed– with my reasoning. Reasoning that includes a recent history of the Kroenkes hiring younger, less-experienced head coaches. Three in the past 2 years– for other of their sports ventures. The NFL Los Angeles Rams (age 30, no HC exp.), NHL Denver Avalanche (age 43, no HC exp.), and NBA Denver Nuggets (age 46, 1yr previous HC exp.). In each case, those teams have made dramatic improvements either in their first or second seasons following those hirings.
Will I be proven wrong? Quite possibly.
But I’ve not stated anything that’s untrue.
jw1
My sights are in Gazidis here. He has called time on Wenger, no doubt with reluctant support from the owner. But in doing so he has made a statement that it’s success or out. Whoever you are and whatever your stature. That’s a stance to be respected at a great club. But it’s also one he must now live up to. Deliver now Ivan or feck off I say. If you go with a long punt of employing someone to their first managerial position well more fool you – unless he calls it right, in which case he deserves all the respect.
JW, I appreciate it. Please also appreciate that what you are suggesting is a total nightmare to me, hence my strong reactions. The idea that Wenger was ‘allowed to leave’ and to then be replaced by Arteta is both inconceivable and unacceptable to me.
PE, Eris, thank you for the comments re the post. The club really made it a special day for Wenger, the ex-players, supporters etc. Really good to see the weather helping a lot too.
Yessir. And though I disagree– I see why you feel that way.
We are likely close to same age, I’ll hazard to guess.
And, I’ve witnessed (over 15-20 years) what I (at first) considered the bastardization of each of the pro sports I’ve followed since childhood. First, from obscene amounts of money– and then by way of statistical overload. Numbers that were the benchmarks and records from decades ago– I can still recite– but consider them irrelevant or useless in comparative terms or conversation today.
As a US sports fan– I am a dinosaur.
I’ll leave it at that.
jw1
As a US sports fan – I am a unicorn! 🙂
Cheers JW. I like the sound of the Jardim fella a lot more btw.
Just as we are all focused on strengthening the defence I hope the recruitment of a new manager would not be an over reaction to our poor defence. If they over react we’ll get an Italian coach possibly Allegri (defence first) but something keep telling me it would be a German on the young side say in his forties.
Sanlehi and Mislintat are the football experts that must be at the centre of the search. The club gives a general guide of what they want (say age range, experience, philosophy, contract terms etc and the experts would do the finding. Mislintat is so well connected to Germany and seemed to have already gained the confidence of the BoD so much. It points to the fact that Newman is likely coming from Germany. I’d still give 40% to come from elsewhere.
I like Leonardo Jardim, jw1; I like him a lot and I know he will represent the values at our club just as well, if he is hired. But, it all points to a German coach. The club seems to like to have the playing side (every cadre from the academy to the senior team, less so the Women’s team, though) of the business in sync with regard to philosophy, values tactics and formations.
Recall how all our teams went to a 4-3-3 when we switched to it and then how all the sides played with 3 at the back when Wenger had to tweak with our defensive play. In recent times, I had made the observation about how the German influence in the club was growing and saw it as a deleberate ploy to build that mentality that has made the Germans so successful in the game, even at the world stage. From Mustafi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ozil, Mkhitaryan and all the way to Auba, you have players who are either German or played in Germany. With Mertesacker going to head the academy (before him, Andries Jonker, the Dutch man who has had coaching stints in Germany held sway) the production line is set to mirror the required philosophy. We have Jens Lehman around the first team as well. It is all set up for a German manager; I’d rather not try guessing who because Arsenal will normally have a surprise for us all.
Good writeup TA.
Arsenal’s Total Football will always be linked to Wenger, like Barca’s Tiki Taka football be linked to Johan Cruyff. He will also be known for many things he achieved.
Eris, like all Arsenal transfers, it is best not to speculate who to come in as the next manager. We had many years of transfer speculations and in the end we got disappointed. Maybe this time it will be different? However, I do not want to risk it.
I want Newman to be used to the Arsenal way or the Barca way, and tweak his tactics to suit the way we play better. The way we played on the weekend meant that our tactics and plans are not totally broken, but the players need to work harder for the club and Newman.
Hi all.. Great post TA..
Wenger is our true legend.. Talking about him will never be enough.. Hehehe..
Still wonder what will happen in this near time.. I hope he stay as one of our BoD..
This must be interesting.. Hope I copy the right article.. Hehehe..
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/08/arsenals-laurent-koscielny-out-for-six-months-with-achilles-injury
Wenger comes when he was about 44 yo..
I think nowadays a younger manager are accepted more than before..
I still go for Arteta in my first choice..
But if, as all think that the Newman will be a Germany.. I hope it come from inside.. Jens Lehmann.. Hehehe..
What’s difficult to guess is whether Wenger has a hand in this process of his replacement. Did he partake in the hiring of Sanlehi and Mislintat? Is he taking part in finding his successor? Or is it all Gazidis?
Unless Wenger resented such moves, it stands to reason that the club would have needed and sought his impute. I find it difficult imagining everything happening behind him while still around.
It’s possible he lost out on a power fight. This looks most plausible.
TA,
SENT A MAIL TO YOUR BOX.
That sounds a bit more plausible, Eris. A German-league-based manager could be the way they are going. Again I say Low is the man, and if it’s him it will be kept totally quiet out of respect for him and the German FA right now. There are other options of course.
Having said that, Gazidis may not want that situation to happen and insist on a non-German(y) (based) manager as to have a better power-balance for him. Fun an games.
Cheers PE. Will look later.
The manoeuvres. But they would be aware that there is a certain eye viewing it all. Kroenke’s.
Guys, any news for tonight’s game? We have to win these 2 games to be able to get a decent number of points.
New Post New Post 🙂
HenryC, Osei-Tutu seems to be the only academy defender close to 1st team exposure, it would be nice to see him get some minutes at Huddersfield, but realistically next season in the League Cup and the early rounds of the UEFA Cup is where we’ll see him make his way.
Not sure about T.Bola, he isn’t a name that I’ve seen training with the 1st team this campaign.
Our youth team defence, Ballard 18, Medley 17, Thompson 17 and Daley-Campbell 18, look the best the club have developed in some time, despite the mauling handed out to them by Chelsea.
We, as a club, haven’t been very successful in developing defenders for a long long time now.