Arsenal had just beaten a spirited West Bromwich Albion side 1-0 away from home, a decent and much needed win for the Arsenal.
As the final whistle blew, amongst the hardcore away support, an Anti Wenger banner was unfurled, thanking him for the memories but that it was time to say "Goodbye".
It publicized a debate that has been going on within the Arsenal fans for a number of years now, Should he stay or should he go?
Then last Saturday evening at Stoke train station, a group of fans booed and abused the man who had taken Arsenal from being a very decent side in England to being a club that people around the world know and respect.
I remember going abroad when we had Bruce Rioch in charge, every time I got into a conversation about English football it was always Liverpool and Man United that were the topics of conversation.
Despite Arsenal having won the Cup winners Cup a couple of years before, and getting to the final the following year, it seemed the good people of Europe did not think much of The Gunners.
Fast forward a couple of years into the Wenger era, and almost anyone who has even a passing interest in football knows who Arsenal are.
I'm not going to talk about the trophies here because we all know what he has won; instead I'll mention the brand, Arsenal FC.
He has turned the club from a team that was defensive, dirty, hated by everyone and was classed as a bunch of long ball merchants (basically Stoke) into a team that was suave, sophisticated, and elegant and winners.
Arsenal’s name for the First time I can remember was being mentioned alongside all the other great teams in Europe, every big name player was being linked with Arsenal, it was kind of surreal at the time as this was the same Arsenal that had the likes of Glenn Helder, Eddie McGoldrick and John Jensen playing for them not long before.
That was then, so what about now?
No one can deny the impact building the new stadium has had on Arsenal not only as a club, but as a business model. This has meant Arsene has been unable to compete with the likes of the "Sugar Daddy Clubs" like Chelsea, Man City, Man United in the transfer market.
I do not think any other manager in the world could do what Arsene has done, in terms of keeping Arsenal competitive with a big financial handicap.
So does all his previous success mean that Arsene is seen as unquestionable around the club, That he is some kind of a dictator?
Well for that fans need to look to the club ownership, if Arsene is like that then that can only be Mr. Stan Kroenkes fault, the question every fans should want to know is, Does Stan Kroenke want Arsenal to be a trophy winning team, or a self sustaining business model? (By the way the 2 are not mutually exclusive)
Fans have an absolute right to be ticked off, Questions need to be answered. Most expensive team to watch in the world, and why is the football is not good enough? Why is the injury record so awful? Why haven’t we bought players when they were needed?
The understandable fans frustrations are being directed in the wrong place though. As what has gone on so far can only be laid at the door of the Arsenal board, as it is they who ultimately set the goals, targets and steer the direction of the club.
Whilst Arsene is not faultless, calling for him to be sacked in December when we are only 3 points away from a top 4 place is foolish at best.
So I hope Gooners do get behind the team and the manager and be careful what they wish for.
Arsenal fans would do well to remember what happened to Charlton after Alan Curbishley was ousted due to fan power.
Article contributed by: Yusuf
Twitter: @aabbs7
As the final whistle blew, amongst the hardcore away support, an Anti Wenger banner was unfurled, thanking him for the memories but that it was time to say "Goodbye".
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| Arsene Wenger [Image from flickr by Ronnie Macdonald] |
Then last Saturday evening at Stoke train station, a group of fans booed and abused the man who had taken Arsenal from being a very decent side in England to being a club that people around the world know and respect.
I remember going abroad when we had Bruce Rioch in charge, every time I got into a conversation about English football it was always Liverpool and Man United that were the topics of conversation.
Despite Arsenal having won the Cup winners Cup a couple of years before, and getting to the final the following year, it seemed the good people of Europe did not think much of The Gunners.
Fast forward a couple of years into the Wenger era, and almost anyone who has even a passing interest in football knows who Arsenal are.
I'm not going to talk about the trophies here because we all know what he has won; instead I'll mention the brand, Arsenal FC.
He has turned the club from a team that was defensive, dirty, hated by everyone and was classed as a bunch of long ball merchants (basically Stoke) into a team that was suave, sophisticated, and elegant and winners.
Arsenal’s name for the First time I can remember was being mentioned alongside all the other great teams in Europe, every big name player was being linked with Arsenal, it was kind of surreal at the time as this was the same Arsenal that had the likes of Glenn Helder, Eddie McGoldrick and John Jensen playing for them not long before.
That was then, so what about now?
No one can deny the impact building the new stadium has had on Arsenal not only as a club, but as a business model. This has meant Arsene has been unable to compete with the likes of the "Sugar Daddy Clubs" like Chelsea, Man City, Man United in the transfer market.
I do not think any other manager in the world could do what Arsene has done, in terms of keeping Arsenal competitive with a big financial handicap.
So does all his previous success mean that Arsene is seen as unquestionable around the club, That he is some kind of a dictator?
Well for that fans need to look to the club ownership, if Arsene is like that then that can only be Mr. Stan Kroenkes fault, the question every fans should want to know is, Does Stan Kroenke want Arsenal to be a trophy winning team, or a self sustaining business model? (By the way the 2 are not mutually exclusive)
Fans have an absolute right to be ticked off, Questions need to be answered. Most expensive team to watch in the world, and why is the football is not good enough? Why is the injury record so awful? Why haven’t we bought players when they were needed?
The understandable fans frustrations are being directed in the wrong place though. As what has gone on so far can only be laid at the door of the Arsenal board, as it is they who ultimately set the goals, targets and steer the direction of the club.
Whilst Arsene is not faultless, calling for him to be sacked in December when we are only 3 points away from a top 4 place is foolish at best.
So I hope Gooners do get behind the team and the manager and be careful what they wish for.
Arsenal fans would do well to remember what happened to Charlton after Alan Curbishley was ousted due to fan power.
Article contributed by: Yusuf
Twitter: @aabbs7
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Great article, well written and researched.
Amazing insight and back story.