By Myles Palmer
My pal Philippe Auclair had an hour with Arsene last week, but asked me to keep quiet about what the manager said until his interview appeared in France Football yesterday.
Wenger talked about the key issue in similar terms to those I used on ANR last week.
It boils down to this : Arsenal have to keep achieving for the next three seasons until Ashburton Grove is built.And the stadium costs are BOUND to affect the budget for players.
Wenger said: “Arsenal can become one of the world’s greatest clubs but we are at a turning point in our history.When the new stadium is here, hopefully in 2004, Arsenal will be able to compete with everyone. Then no-one will be able to steal our players on financial grounds alone.
“But for the three or four years ahead, the club will have to manage its investments to dedicate part of the money to building the stadium.
“A balance will have to be found. The question is whether Arsenal can continue at the highest level so they hold all the trump cards when they move into the new ground.”
In other words, we must be in the Champions League in 2002/3 and 2003/4.
Wenger warned that famous clubs can crumble into near-invisibility overnight.
“Look how Ajax, who used to dominate European football, now find themselves in a fabulous new stadium at the ArenA but with an average team.
“That is why Arsenal have made an effort to buy young players this year. We are building for the next three or four years.”
One of Arsene Wenger’s greatest qualities is his ability to balance a long-term strategy with short-term needs of his team.
Buying young players, not readymade stars, has always been a huge part of his strategy. He is a star-maker who gets a big kick out of developing raw talent.
He did that brilliantly with Anelka, who has since struggled because he left Wenger two years too soon.
Wenger and Dein know that Vieira is more than a colossal anchorman and an important symbol. He is the bridge-man who allows a medium-sized club to punch above its weight.
Vieira, more than any other player, can help Arsenal to bridge those three seasons before the new stadium brings in big money.His power and skill make Keown better, Henry better, Pirtes better – and by doing that Vieira can keep them in the Champions League every year.
If what Mark Irwin says in today’s Sun is true, and Patrick Vieira’s dream is to be European Footballer of the Year, then he will only stay one more season.
Of course, if Arsenal win the European Cup in 2002,and Vieira continues to perform at his phenomenal 2001 level, he would have a good chance of becoming European Footballer of the Year.
That’s a big if, of course !
18th July 2001.