Congratulations to Arsene Wenger. Ten years in charge.
Four FA Cups, three titles and a long unbroken run in the Champions League. Arsenal are now regarded as one of the top European teams – and one of the most attractive to watch.
Under his realm Arsenal have played 565, won 326, lost 100 and drawn 139. And he’s done it spending an average of £5m/year.
Admittedly the honours would have looked better if Keown or Kanu had knocked in a winner against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup; or the team had held out for the last 17 minutes against Barca for the European Cup. But you need some luck in finals.
Here’s Arsenal News Review’s coverage in 1996:
Wednesday:
Most of the press coverage since Sunday has been looking ahead at what Arsene Wenger can bring to the club; contrasting a supposed “club in crisis” with their position in the table; and the promotion of Pat Rice.
Hard news is that Wenger’s contract is for three years and reportedly worth £1.5m.
Perhaps the most telling quote from Wenger is in Tuesday’s Independent when he says “…it is the things people do that matter, not what is said. We are not lawyers, we are footballers and the most important thing is winning football matches. If you can do that then there’s no problem.”
In the Standard he says:”What is most important is the system you choose to play and the mentality of the players.”
And a message to Arsenal fans in the Guardian:”It will take me a couple of months to adapt the team and for them to adapt to me. No team can be attractive and fantastic in every match, but my message to the fans is come here and be happy.”
Many of the articles don’t say anything new – but one important fact is that Wenger will play 4-4-2 saying it is a flexible system enabling quick attacks from defence, and that it is strange that when Continental sides are adopting it English clubs are adopting three at the back formations.
Mark Hateley (Independent) says he is a football alcoholic – on his days off flying round the world to see a player or a new tactic. (Incidentally he says he fell asleep watching Spurs v Leicester – jet lag of course).Another new fact is that he was so committed to George Weah’s development that he put him up in his own house.
He denied wanting to buy Sammer, Leonardo, Effenberg (most press) but the Weah to Arsenal rumours next year won’t go away – reiterated in Tuesday’s Mail where he says he wants to play for Arsenal. But Wenger said he has one or two players in mind, emphasising there won’t be wholesale changes to personnel. “Everybody will have a chance to show what they can do.”
Sunday:half weekly review
Sunday news focuses on a couple of Wenger quotes in NoW and Sunday Mirror.
The NoW says it has a world exclusive in that Arsene is to severely limit Arsenal players’ alcohol consumption. Players are only allowed to drink on days off – and then only a limited amount. There are quotes like a footballer’s body is his machine and cannot be abused.(Strange that in a little paragraph in the Mirror, Arsene’s parents used to run a bar – so he has observed the effects of alcohol fist hand). (Here’s hoping these aren’t the first signs of a culture clash here – bearing in mind the history of the “Arsenal team spirit” “drinking camaraderie” and the revelations of a certain P. Gascoigne to be televised on Channel 4 – however, if Arsenal are to follow the European model the there’s gonna have to be changes).
The Mirror piece says Wenger is horrified at Arsenal’s defensive lapses of late and says he says the “ageing players are on trial”.
It is clear that Wenger bases his strategy on rock solid defence as did GG – and that he will not tolerate the amount of goals Arsenal have been letting in of late. The Telegraph says Arsene’s first priority will be to buy a stopper.
A piece on Klinsmann’s time at Monaco in the Mirror, emphasises the defensive strategy. The German says that he was often left alone to fend up front while most of the team were on defensive duties, and considers Wenger applied negative tactics. (Where have we heard that before?).
There isn’t a snippet of a transfer rumour to Arsenal this week-end, re-inforcing the belief – as outlined in the Mail and Express that Wenger will largely stick with his current squad – at least until the Summer.
Reaction to Wenger’s presence at Highbury this week has been positive. Ian Wright said that he’s impressed with the way he gets his point over. Pat Rice is impressed too and can’t wait to be his assistant and learn under him. Wenger made his first tactical switch in the Borussia match advising Rice to put four at the back and go for extra width on the flanks.
Rob Shepherd of the Mail thinks it is a very good long term appointment and says he thinks Arsenal will be able to challenge Manchester United for the title under Wenger – something they haven’t been able to do for four or five years.
You can trace Wenger’s successes, trials and tribulations on ANR