Sports

Wenger to end 22-year Arsenal stay

April 20, 2018
A combination of pictures created in London on September 22, 2016 shows (L-R) Arsenal’s manager Frenchman Arsene Wenger in London on June 17, 1997, in Rome on October 17 2000, in London on August 2, 2009 and in London on March 15, 2018. — AFP
A combination of pictures created in London on September 22, 2016 shows (L-R) Arsenal’s manager Frenchman Arsene Wenger in London on June 17, 1997, in Rome on October 17 2000, in London on August 2, 2009 and in London on March 15, 2018. — AFP

LONDON — Arsene Wenger announced Friday he is bringing down the curtain on 22 years at Arsenal that has been full of trophies but tarnished by struggles in recent years to challenge for the Premier League title.

The 68-year-old arrived at the London club in 1996 a relative unknown but leaves widely hailed as the greatest manager in Arsenal’s history after three Premier League titles and a record-breaking seven FA Cup triumphs.

Wenger, who completed the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first full season in England, was hailed as an innovator in his early years and his spiky clashes with former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson became the stuff of legend.

Yet despite cup success in recent years, fans have become increasingly frustrated by the club’s inability to challenge the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea for the Premier League title and a failure to reach the sharp end of the Champions League.

“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season,” Wenger said in a statement posted on the club’s website.

“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.”

Wenger arrived at the Emirates with Ferguson’s United at the peak of their powers but immediately threw down the gauntlet, winning the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998, before repeating the feat four years later.

But perhaps the most remarkable achievement of his long reign was going through a full league season unbeaten in 2003-04, with his “Invincibles” playing a captivating brand of fluid football.

But after an incredible 19 successive years in the Champions League, Arsenal, in sixth place in the Premier League, could miss out for the second consecutive year after a disappointing league campaign.

Its only realistic chance of qualifying for next season is by winning the second-tier Europa League — the Gunners face Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the semifinals — and Wenger has urged the fans to get behind the club.

“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high,” said Wenger. “To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”

Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer Thierry Henry said Wenger’s recent lack of success should not tarnish his legacy.

“Recently people were always confusing what he is doing at the minute and his legacy,” Henry told Sky Sports. “Once you announce you are leaving people are going to talk about your legacy and his legacy is untouchable.”

“Let’s not get lost in celebrating the end of his era,” he added. “The team has to win the Europa League, it would be an amazing achievement and Arsene never won in Europe before so it would be a great way to give him a good exit.”

Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke paid tribute to a man of “unparalleled class”, with the club saying a successor would be found “as soon as possible”.

Wenger took charge with Arsenal in the doldrums in October 1996, but quickly set about a revolution in English football by overhauling players’ diets and bringing an end to the drinking culture that had dogged the club.

Results soon arrived on the pitch as Wenger’s men beat an all-conquering Manchester United side to the title in 1997-98 and won the league again four years later.

Despite its constant presence in the Champions League Wenger was never able to end Arsenal’s quest to win the competition for a first time. The closest they came was in 2006 when a young side was edged out 2-1 in the final by Barcelona.

That season was also Arsenal’s final campaign at Highbury but the promise that moving to the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium would allow the club to compete financially with the biggest spenders in England and the continent failed to materialize.

Instead, Wenger was much criticized for his unwillingness to spend the money needed to keep up as booming TV revenues saw Premier League rivals splash the cash in an arms race.

Arsenal even sold a host of star players such as Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie.

And the fans’ frustration continued to grow as, even after loosening the purse strings to buy Mesut Ozil in 2013 and Alexis Sanchez a year later, Arsenal still failed to compete for the title or the Champions League.

Wenger has been with the North Londoners since October 1996 and, with 1228 games in charge, is by far the longest-serving current manager in English soccer. — AFP


April 20, 2018
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