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Tag: Arsene Wenger

  • Wenger regrets staying at Arsenal for 22 years

    Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has said that staying at the club for nearly 22 years may have been the biggest mistake of his career.

    He said that he regretted sacrificing “everything” for the job.

    The 68-year-old Frenchman, who was appointed in October, 1996, left the north London club at the end of last season after winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

    In an interview with French outlet, RTL, Wenger said that he would make a decision on his future “in the next few months”.

    When asked what the biggest mistake of his career were, Wenger said: “Perhaps, staying at the same club for 22 years.

    “I’m someone who likes new things, likes change. But, I also like challenges. I was a little bit of a prisoner to my challenge each time.”

    Wenger admitted that he was obsessed with ensuring Arsenal’s success on the pitch, adding that sacrifices in his personal life were one the hardest parts of being a manager.

    Read Also: Arsenal appoint Emery as new manager

    “I regret having sacrificed everything I did because I realise I’ve hurt a lot of people around me.

    “I’ve neglected a lot of people. I’ve neglected my family, I’ve neglected many close ones.

    “Deep down though, the obsessed man is selfish in his pursuit of what he loves. He ignores a lot of other things.

    “But it’s a bone to chase at the same time,” he added.

    Wenger was also confident that former Arsenal players, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, who were now pursuing coaching careers, had the qualities to succeed at the top level.

    Vieira recently became Nice coach, while Henry, assistant to Belgium boss, Roberto Martinez, at the World Cup, has quit his Sky Sports punditry role to focus on becoming a manager.

    However, Wenger warned the French pair of the sacrifices involved in following a coaching career.

    “Often, I’m asked if Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira will be good managers and I always answer yes,” he said.

    “They have all the qualities; they are intelligent, they know football, they have excellent skill sets, but do they want to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed to do only that?

    “It’s an obsession which bounces around your head day and night.”

    NAN

  • Twenty two years @ the Emirates a mistake-Wenger

     

    Arsene Wenger has admitted staying at Arsenal for 22 years was “perhaps” the biggest mistake of his managerial career.

    The 68-year-old, who was appointed on October 1, 1996, stepped down as Gunners boss in May after winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

    The Frenchman left Arsenal with a year remaining on his contract after his side missed out on Champions League qualification for a second consecutive season and he admitted he now looks back on his time in north London with a tinge of regret.

    In a wide-ranging interview with French outlet RTL, Wenger had this to say when asked what the biggest mistake of his career was: “Perhaps staying at the same club for 22 years.

    “I am someone who likes to move around a lot, but I also like a challenge. I’ve been a prisoner of my own challenge at times.”

    Wenger also revealed his obsession with ensuring Arsenal’s success on the field had a heavy toll on his personal life it and questioned whether that is a price his former players Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, who have both moved into coaching, would be willing to pay.

    “I regret having sacrificed everything I did because I realise I’ve hurt a lot of people around me. I’ve neglected a lot of people. I’ve neglected my family, I’ve neglected many close ones,” Wenger admitted.

    “Deep down though, the obsessed man is selfish in his pursuit of what he loves. He ignores a lot of other things. But it’s a bone to chase at the same time.

    “Often, I’m asked if Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira will be good managers and I always answer yes. They have all the qualities; they’re intelligent, they know football, they have excellent skill but do they want to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed. It’s an obsession which bounces around your head day and night.

    “You wake up at 3am thinking about team selection, tactics, formation…”

    Wenger also revealed he turned down the opportunity to manage his native France on numerous occasions.

    He is now contemplating whether a move into international management would suit him and expects to make a decision on his future “in the next few months”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arsene Wenger

    •The legend who sublimated English football bows out of Arsenal after 22 years

    Up until about two decades ago, football in England was typically what experts often describe as ‘kick and follow’. It is a pattern of play which embraced brawny physical strength: a combo of mechanics, kinetics and a dash of precision. In other words, in those days, when you watched English football, you could have been watching 22 robots on the field.

    There is still a bit of that in German football today, though at a more refined state – digitally perfect positioning, precision ball passing and clinical finishes in front of goal. So you have good football but not beautiful play; you have a world-beating footballing nation but without equal global followership. This is the story of German football today. This was English football for a very long time.

    But this changed drastically with the arrival of a certain Frenchman, Arsene Wenger, to Arsenal Football Club (AFC) in 1996. The club was exactly 110 years old upon the arrival of Wenger. But in 22 years, he brought more success, more renown and glory to AFC than it had in over a century.

    A hitherto unstoried manager out there in the middle of nowhere with a Japanese club, Wenger brought flare, character and footballing beauty to AFC.

    Before Wenger, Arsenal’s style of play as was typical in English football, was described as boring and predictable. His reign is said to have been defined by the introduction of “attacking football, an overhaul of dietary and fitness practices and efficiency with money.”

    Wenger also opened AFC to a preponderance of highly talented and skillful foreign players, especially from his home country, France, and Africa. He had eyes for youthful talents and took them wherever he found them on the globe. Thus Wenger’s youthful, multinational team played football like no other team did in England.

    At the height of his reign, he had some of the best players in the history of the game, including likes of Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Lundberg, Pires, Wiltord, Bergkamp, Overmars, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Anelka, Kanu Nwankwo, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, Alex Song, Sagna, Eboue, Hleb, Emmanuel Adebayor, Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Alexander Lacazette and among his last great signing being Pierre Aubumeyang.

    Wenger’s exhilarating soccer earned Arsenal glorious results almost from the start. He won a second League and Cup double in the history of the club in his first full season 1997-98 and the third double three seasons later. Apart from taking the team to their first finals of the prestigious continental tournament – UEFA Cup in 1999 – 2000; they also won the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005.

    However, what defined Wenger’s tenure at AFC the most and a feat that may be difficult for English teams to replicate was winning the Premier League 2003 – 2004 season without losing a single match. The run was to continue in the following season with the team recording a total of 49 matches unbeaten.

    Though Wenger won a shelf-ful of trophies, he never picked any European title and in the last decade before his nudged exit recently, his fluid style failed him as he could never win with it anymore. And with big money coming to the English league, his financial prudence became an albatross of sort.

    Regardless, he left the club a legend. He built one of the most valuable brands and helped to build one of the best stadia in England, The Emirates. The man from Strasbourg rode on the wings of his passion to become football legend.

  • Arsenal appoint Emery as new manager

    Arsenal have appointed former Paris St Germain coach Unai Emery as the new manager of the club, with the Spaniard succeeding the long-serving Arsene Wenger, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

    Emery, who joined PSG in June 2016, left the French club at the end of this season, having led them to a domestic treble.

    The 46-year-old had previously guided Spanish side Sevilla to three Europa League titles.
    “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career.

    Read Also: Wenger urges successor to ‘respect’ Arsenal values

    “He has also developed some of the best young talents in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement.

    “His hard work and passionate approach and his sense of value on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward,” Gazidis said.

    Wenger departed the North London club at the end of last season after nearly 22 years at the helm, helping the team capture three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

  • Wenger to decide next move by June 14

     

    Former Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger has hinted he will decide his next move on June 14, incidentally the kick off date of the next World cup in Russia.

    ‘It’s just too soon to know what I will do next, I haven’t even emptied my desk yet and in a way I am still in a state of shock,’ he told The Guardian.

    ‘I am going to give myself until June 14, the day the World Cup begins, to decide.

    ‘The question is do I still want to coach, to be on the bench, or is it time to take up different functions? The one thing I can say for sure is that I will continue to work.

    ‘But do I want to continue to suffer as much? I want to continue to defend my ideas of football, that’s for sure. Spontaneously, I would say I still want to coach but I can’t really say that yet for sure.’

    ‘The one thing I can say for sure is that I will continue to work, but do I want to continue to suffer as much? I want to continue to defend my ideas of football, that’s for sure.’

    The Frenchman who reluctantly left the Emirates after 22 years cleared his desk on Monday from the Colney training facility.

    He  was pictured signing autographs and waving to fans as he left the complex.

    The 68-year-old arrived early in the morning and spent over four years at the ground, walking the pitches and bidding farewell to members of staff

    Wenger, joined by coaches Steve Bould and Boro Primorac, needed two cars to empty all of his things from his office and did his best to put on a brave face on what was undoubtedly an emotional day for him.

    The manager admitted last week that he still hadn’t had a chance to clear out his belongings and that it would be a tough moment when he did.

    Pressure mounted on Wenger last season having missed out on the top four – and therefore a Champions League place – and another disappointing campaign in which they finished sixth saw him wrap up his time in charge.

    He was linked with the Paris Saint-Germain job before Thomas Tuchel joined and could eye a Monaco return should Leonardo Jardim depart this summer.

  • Guardiola hopes Arteta would ignore Arsenal overtures

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he would understand if assistant coach Mikel Arteta was lured to Arsenal to become their next manager,

    But he hopes the Spaniard remains at the Premier League champions to finish what they started.

    Guardiola’s assistant at City since 2016, former Arsenal Captain Arteta has been mentioned as one of the leading contenders to succeed Arsene Wenger, who brought the curtain down on his 22-year reign at the London club on Sunday.

    “Mikel’s contribution has been amazing,” Guardiola told reporters after City’s 1-0 win over Southampton.

    Read Also: Misconduct: Guardiola, Liverpool to know fate May 31.

    “We work together so good and him staying will (make me) the happiest guy in the world.

    “If he decides to move because he has this offer, I will not say you don’t have to go. I want the best for my friends.

    “I will be so sad, but I will understand his position. It is his career, his life, but hopefully he can stay and finish what we started.”

    Former midfielder Arteta made 150 appearances for Arsenal under Wenger from 2011 to 2016. \

    NAN

     

  • Wenger urges successor to ‘respect’ Arsenal values

    Arsene Wenger used his farewell news conference as Arsenal manager on Thursday to urge his successor to “respect the values of the club”.

    The Frenchman departs after a final game at Huddersfield Town on Sunday and was in reflective mood as he contemplated his 22 years in charge.

    Speculation is intensifying over who his successor will be with British media reporting that Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and former Arsenal captains Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira among leading contenders.

    Asked for his advice to the new man, Wenger said: “Respect the values of the club. I would like him to bring his own ideas.

    “It’s a chance for the players to see something different. But, on the other hand, I will say respect what has been built here.”

    Read Also: Who succeeds Arsene Wenger? Vieira leads contenders

    In spite of his many achievements, Wenger will depart on a low with Arsenal losing a seventh consecutive away game on Wednesday, 3-1 at Leicester City

    It was their worst run in more than half-a-century.

    On Sunday, Arsenal are looking to end their embarrassing record of being the only side in the top four tiers of English football not to pick up an away point this year.

    Wenger, however, still believes the club is in good shape for his successor.

    “The players’ attitude was great last night,” said Wenger. “They were fantastic. There is a special bond in this team.

    “There is something waiting to come out that is special. Hopefully that will come out next season.”

    Wenger said he is unsure about his immediate plans, but has been linked with a position as general manager at Paris St Germain (PSG).

    “When you stay for such a long period, you question if it is time to go now or not,” he said.

    “We live in a society where people want big change always, you know. I don’t know what I will do. Maybe go to Russia.

    “I have some work to do in France (next week) on Monday, Tuesday. On Thursday, I will come back and clear my office. After that, I don’t know.”

    Wenger also used the occasion to look back, saying that while he considered his 2004 ‘Invincibles’ team the best of his reign, he was at his most productive between 2006-2015.

    The ‘Invincibles’ went through the 2004-2005 season unbeaten.

    NAN

  • Arsene Wenger: Time to say goodbye

    Sir: It is the news that most traumatized Arsenal FC fans across the world have always been eager to hear. When it eventually came, many of them understandably sighed a heave of great relief. For several fans, who are reasonably devastated by recent developments from the hitherto inspirational football club, the news came so suddenly that it was too difficult to believe. But then, it is now official: Arsenal Football Club and English Premiership longest serving manager, Arsene Wenger, will be leaving the team at the end of the current season.

    The French born tactician, who joined the club in October 1996, is no doubt, the most successful manager in the club’s history.  Under his watch, Arsenal won the Premier League title in 1998, 2002, and 2004 as well as seven FA Cups, including three in the past four years.  In the 1998 and 2002 seasons respectively, Arsenal won League and FA Cup Double. One of the major highlights of Wenger’s coaching career in Arsenal was recorded in the 2003-2004 season when the team was nicknamed “The Invincibles” after it went through the Premier League season undefeated with 26 wins and 12 draws. For 20 consecutive seasons, Arsenal under Wenger finished in the top four bracket of the Premier League log. In the 2005/2006 season, Wenger’s Arsenal played out the UEFA Champions League final but was edged out 2-1 by a Lionel Messi inspired FC Barcelona.

    What then went wrong with Wenger? Why did the man in whom the fans used to chant: “In Arsene we trust” suddenly lose his goodwill? According to soccer pundits, Wenger really lost it when he started recruiting skilful but tiny, feeble and less passionate players. In the years when Arsenal was dominant, its players were chiefly physically strong and equally skilful. In-spite of recent revolution, the English league is still a dominantly physical one. Hence, Wenger’ frail boys, though skilfully endowed, always lose out when it comes to the gritty end of the game.

    Few soccer pundits have equally chided Wenger for what they term his predictable tactical approach to games. Wenger is an attack minded manager who cares less about other aspects of the game. His team is often punished by more tactically suave managers who regularly capitalize on Wenger’s team conventional style of play. He has also been accused of being excessively loyal and soft on his players as he lacks the no-nonsense trait of tough managers such as Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson who ensure that only players who are overtly committed to their respective teams are fielded.

    In-spite of all his shortcomings as a manager, Wenger will, no doubt, remain a legend at Arsenal. The truth about life is that there is time for everything and for Monsieur Wenger this, indeed, is the right time to move on.

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi,

    Ministry of Information & Strategy, Lagos.

  • Wenger got £9m to leave at the end of season

     

    If you think that Arsene Wenger decision to leave at the end of the season was arrived at on a platter, then you are very wrong.  It has now been revealed that the Frenchman who is still having a year contract left was handed a £9million please go in peace cheque to make the agreement come to pass.

    The Frenchman announced on Friday that he was leaving the Emirates this summer after 22 years in charge of the club.

    The 68-year-old claimed it was ‘the right time for me to step down’, but it now emerges that he was forced out under pressure from the US owners.

    Instead Wenger lost the support of owner Stan Kroenke, who decided to act ahead of the Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid next week.

    Wenger had no intention of leaving the club, forcing them to pay off the final year of his salary in full.

    Having missed out on Champions League football this season and way off the pace in the league, the Gunners need to win the Europa League to return to the top table of European football.

    The board hope announcing his departure early will galvanise the fan base and the players ahead of the must-win tie.

    Chief executive Ivan Gazidis hailed Wenger on Friday evening but would not be drawn on the talks which led to his departure.

    Instead he heaped praise on the long-serving boss and admitted finding a replacement would be a tall order.

    ‘I have often said (replacing Wenger) is the biggest challenge we face,’ Gazidis said.

    ‘In the coming months the world will see the unity and power of this football club, and the people within it.

    ‘We are not going to find a replacement for Arsene Wenger – we have to find a new path forward.

    ‘Arsene often said his aim was to leave the club in a better position than when he found it and we are in a better place today than we could have ever imagined 22 years ago,’ he added.

    Wenger released a statement on the club website announcing his imminent exit.

    In it, Wenger said: ‘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.

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

    ‘I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

    ‘I want to thank the staff, the players, the directors and the fans who make this club so special.’

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arsenal fans push for renaming of Emirates Stadium

     

    A petition has started to rename the Emirates as ‘Arsene Wenger Stadium’.

    As the tributes continue to pour in for Wenger following his impending departure after 22 years as Arsenal boss, some want permanent recognition of his contribution to the club.

    The longest serving Arsenal boss steered the team to unparalleled success during his tenure.

    With more than 800 Premier League games to his name and 10 major trophies, Wenger has become synonymous with the north London club.

    And the movement to rename Emirates Stadium in his honour is already gathering pace.

    Two former Arsenal players Paul Merson and Alan Smith are both in favour of the idea.

    ‘They should drop the Emirates bit – they don’t need the money – and name it the Arsene Wenger Stadium,’ Merson told Sky Sports News.

    Wenger is to leave the Gunners at the end of the season after 22 years in charge

    ‘That’s his stadium. He built that. He made that stadium. Even if they called it the Emirates Arsene Wenger Stadium. He deserves to be on that,’ he added.

    Smith agreed: ‘I go along with what Merse said. I think it’s a great shout – to name the stadium after him would be a fitting tribute.’

    ‘Obviously, clubs these days are unwilling to forego all of the millions that come with naming rights, but I think that would be fantastic.’

    Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign as Arsenal manager will end in the summer after the Frenchman announced on Friday that this season will be his last in north London.

    His departure signals the last of the long-serving managers with Wenger’s reign more than four times longer than any other current Premier League boss.

    The 68-year-old’s reign began in the summer of 1996 when he joined from Nagoya Grampus Eight to replace Bruce Rioch and his resignation represents the end of an era for both Arsenal and the Premier League.