When Arsenal hosted Manchester United, it was to be a battle of the two longest serving managers in the Premiership. Arsene Wenger has been at the helm in north London for 15 years, with Sir Alex Ferguson preceding him by 10 years at Old Trafford. Gone are the days when two used to snarl at each other and could barely bring each other to smile let alone shake hands with one another. Over the years, their relationship has mellowed, and is now one of respect as was witnessed with Wenger’s pitch side move to the United dug out to offer a pre-match smile and a strong handshake to Ferguson ahead of the two sides clash at the Emirates. After a poor league start Wenger has been under pressure this season, with sections of Arsenal fans voicing concerns at the club’s transfer policy and the direction that the club is now pursuing.
It was a goal to light up the season for any Arsenal fan, and when that Arsenal fan happens to be Thierry Henry then you just knew that the actions and the volume on netting during his second Gunners’ debut in the FA Cup 3rd round against Leeds would leave no one in doubt of the significance of what had happened. The King was back and once again the owner of all he surveyed. Only times have changed considerably during the four years of Henry’s absence, and given his avowed desire to never play in Europe again, it was always going to be something special that would coax the World and European Cup winner out of his MLS hiatus.
Cesc Fabregas has spoken openly and honestly of his eight years at Arsenal, and of his anguish over leaving north London. Arsenal fans felt that a return to his native Catalunya would always be on the cards, but the manner of Fabregas’s departure shocked not only them but Arsene Wenger too. The Arsenal manager has spoken of his sadness of losing a player about to hit his prime , and coupled with the departure of Samir Nasri, the Emirates was rocked to the core, with it taking time to recover from a disastrous opening few games to the current Premiership season.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, than Arsene Wenger should be ecstatic that Roberto Mancini is willing to copy his methods at Manchester City. That should case here, but so intent is Mancini in replicating the Wenger way, he has no issue with buying Arsenal players to achieve the dream of his UAE backers. We have the Emirates, they have the Etihad. We have free flowing football, after a dour few games last season, now Mancini has free flowing football. We have talented players, and now to add insult to injury, they have returned to the well again and again, taking Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Adebayor from north London. Even former legend Patrick Vieira was tempted Not content on stopping there either, Mancini is now eyeing up the Premiership’s top scorer Robin Van Persie, and for a Board used to balance sheets rather than team sheets, the alarm bells should have been ringing loudly in their ears by now. It would seem that Wenger is powerless to arrest the high profile departures up the M6.
The longest serving manager in Arsenal’s history, and for a club, which was founded in 1886, that is some record. Arsene Wenger celebrates thirteen years at the helm of the famous north London side today, and as well as holding the title of the Gunners’ longest serving manager, he is also the most successful. Three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, are Wenger’s achievements, and we must not forget the Champions League final in 2006,
Arsene Wenger has given his support to the new “Arsenalisation” initiative. “Arsenalisation is a project bearing fruit. I’m a fan of it both outside and inside the ground. I hope that people can feel at home when they come here because the sense of history embraces them and they are where they want to be. It gives the stadium some soul and some love,”
