Twenty-two years in charge. Three Premier League titles. Seven FA Cups. Eight hundred and twenty-three games. One Arsene Wenger. Last Friday, the manager of  Arsenal FC announced his premature departure — a day people had come to expect sooner rather than later. Yet the legacy of his tenure and his managerial impact on modern-day football means that no Arsenal fan can really be braced for this divorce. 

Yes, his journey has run its course; yes, he picked the right moment to do it before he rallies his troops for a final shot at European glory; and yes, we can’t forget that his team’s trajectory in the last ten-ish years (FA Cups alone are not a sign of success) has been unquestionable demise. But will this overshadow his legacy? I don’t think so, as he has brought more to the game than most, and his philosophy, along with his winning record, still commands great respect. Wenger’s tale will be told as a story of two acts, and Act One shall be remembered far more than Act Two. 

When the news reached me on Friday morning, it was a real emotional hit. My Facebook group chat messages started pouring in as friends of different allegiances voiced their opinions: “I’d love to spoil his party” and “if he wins Europa I’ll be so sad he’s going”. Tributes flooded Twitter as #MerciArsene trended globally, and former football legends were quick to commemorate a great servant to the game. Gary Neville, an ardent nemesis of Wenger’s teams, said his counterpart “built the best teams I played against”. Likewise, Gunners goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson described him as “the greatest manager in the history of Arsenal Football Club”.

This no doubt holds true, as nostalgically, I would say Wenger was a driving factor behind my early love for the game. I was both enthralled and inspired by his 2004 Invincibles that I chose to support them single-handedly based on this. The “Wengerball” label given to his teams oozed ingenuity, class and steel. I think my sadness about his departure stems from the now-severed tie with his first generation of players, who will always be remembered as my childhood idols.

Wenger provided an international eye for bringing players to Arsenal, many of whom were unknown at the time, but were transformed into wonderfully gifted winners. In 2003, Thierry Henry, scorer of 11 per cent of Arsenal goals under Wenger, said he owed his player of the year award to his manager for instilling confidence in him. Dennis Bergkamp, probably the most technically gifted player I’ve seen, primed under Wenger’s tutelage and retired a Premier League great. Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg were effervescent players who added greater depth and moments of individual brilliance to big games. Cesc Fabregas recently referred to his former coach as a “father figure who always pushed me to be the best”. Like Bill Shankly of Liverpool and Matt Busby of Manchester United, Wenger’s legacy will be enmeshed in Arsenal’s soul. 

But it wasn’t just the football, as Wenger’s visionary characteristics changed dressing room cultures too. For example, beer was banned and replaced by yoga stretches. He also pioneered the move to a new stadium in 2006, along with rigorous reassessment of finances, and in turn restructured transfers based on youth development. Such feats complement the revolutionary achievements of a man previously unknown (papers read ‘Arsene Who?’) to English football, which, back in 1996, seemed very insular. Wenger put his success down to a number of factors, including dedication, sacrifice, luck, good health and having found a club that matches his values.  

Of course, the Arsenal faithful cannot ignore the underachieving of the last 10 years. Now, I’d be lying if I said I’ve never stated my case for ‘Wenger Out’ — the two-worded debate so prevalent on British soil — but I would say I’ve always stuck by him, probably more out of nostalgia than hope. Nonetheless, 3,283 days without silverware between 2005 and 2014 provides grim reading, and winning three league titles and four FA Cups in his first nine seasons is astonishing yet equally frustrating keeping in mind that he will have served 22 years in charge.

Overall, though, Arsene Wenger should and will be remembered as a football great, like so many of the players he has bred. His failures probably stem from his own stubbornness; someone once told me he’s an ‘analog manager in a digital age’. Football is now a money’s game, and he hasn’t wavered from his principles enough. The immediate question of who will fill his immortal void is not clear-cut, which is a problem, but whoever fills in will not inherit a poisoned chalice. An overhaul may be needed, yes, but things can surely only get better. Oh, and I also read a stat today saying Arsene Wenger has won more Premier League games than Tottenham have! 

Thanks for the memories, Arsene!

WHAT THEY SAID

Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United manager: “He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man.”

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager: “He is a huge personality. The Premier League is the Premier League thanks to what he has done.”

Thierry Henry, former Arsenal forward: “His legacy is untouchable. Managers, fans from other teams — (they talk about) how Arsene changed Arsenal.”

Antonio Conte, Chelsea manager: “He tried to play good football, play creative football and offensive football. He deserves a great tribute.”

HIGHS AND LOWS AT ARSENAL 

Highs

1997-98: The Frenchman’s first full season got off to a poor start but ended in glory as he led the team to the league and FA Cup double, a first for a non-British manager.

2001-02: Ending a three-year period of finishing second behind Manchester United, a re-galvanised Arsenal reclaimed the league and FA Cup for a second domestic double.

2002-03: With the Fergie-Wenger feud in full swing, the pair began to tussle for the league. Arsenal missed out but secured Wenger’s third FA Cup.

2003-04: Wenger’s shining achievement year, as the Invincibles won the title unbeaten, stretching to 49 games.

2005-06: Arsenal’s heroic journey to the Champions League final was halted by a brilliant Barcelona, which has since been the closest they’ve come to European glory.

2006-07: Arsenal moved to their new 60,000-seat home of the Emirates.

2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17: Arsenal’s resurgence was characterised by three FA Cup wins in four years, though this did not mask disenfranchisement from fans.

Lows

2006-07: The Invincibles squad slowly broke up, Wenger’s side lost the League Cup to Chelsea, was beaten in the FA Cup by Blackburn and knocked out of Europe by PSV. All of these were a sign of things to come.

2007-08: A good start to the season with 28 unbeaten games, but slowly cracks showed and marquee player Thierry Henry left for Barcelona for a modest £16 million.

2010-11: A first home loss in the North London derby and losing the League Cup final in the last minute from a mistake marred the season as ‘business as usual’.

2011-12: The worst defeat since 1896 of 8-2 against rivals Man United was the talking point of another disappointing season.

2013-14: Liverpool blew Arsenal away 5-1 and Chelsea won 6-0 at home, turning Wenger’s 1,000-game celebration into disarray.

2016-17: Losing 10-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich was inconceivable but did not come as a surprise.

TROPHIES AT ARSENAL

Premier League: 3
1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04

FA Cup: 7
1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17

Community Shield: 7
1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017

(A University of Southampton graduate currently interning with t2)