Football lovers and bystanders, we have a wonderful and quite emotional post as today is the last day of the 2017/18 Premier league season and Arsenal fans are finally saying goodbye to thr legendary Arsène wenger. Oluwafemi Ojosu(@TheRains94 on twitter) has decided to write a beautiful sendforth and its worth your time. Enjoy thoroughly and don’t forget to share and comment.
Merci Arsene…
How do you write a tribute to a man who is both Hero and Villain to you? A man who led your club to unprecedented success and unimaginable failure? A man whose brand of soccer can delight, excite, and frustrate you all at the same time? A man whom you love to hate, and whom you hate to love? How do you tell the story of Arsene Wenger; Saviour, Nemesis, Legend, Redeemer and Foe? I honestly do not know.
1st October 1996, the legend of “Le Professeur”; managerial genius who would go on to have 3 premier league and 7 FA cup titles to his name was born, though it was not immediately apparent; because before he became ‘Le Professeur”, he was “Arsene Who?”; an obscure foreign manager brought in from the backwaters of the Japanese J-League to manage one of Britain’s greatest club sides.
20th April 2018, weather; sunny, ambience; perfect … till the Professor announced his decision to step away from the touchline at the Emirates stadium come end of season. Although it had been advocated and even clamoured for by fans who had run a Wenger out campaign all season, none of us expected that it would actually happen, particularly in our lifetimes and that we would be left broken and sad by this momentous decision. Such was the Legacy of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal; a brilliant tactical genius who sadly, overstayed his welcome long enough to see his work almost crumble around him and tarnish his Legacy.
Little known fact… this writer did not start out as an Arsenal fan he was converted by the brilliant attacking philosophy put on display by monsieur Wenger, particularly, the 5-1 demolition of Internazionale Milano at the San Siro whom this writer supported at that time sometime in 2003. It was a footballing masterclass which should be taped and shown to all burgeoning football managers. The grace with which Thierry moved all over the pitch, Mon Dieu! The Beautiful Ecstasy! And thus, begun my long, topsy-turvy, and sometimes toxic relationship with Arsenal under the guidance of Le Professeur. I remember at that time thinking “Wow!” For a club to name themselves after their manager, he must be extraordinary. (Plix Plix Plix… I know I was not the only one that thought Arsenal was named after Arsene Wenger when they were little.) and the club also sported that beautiful deep red 02 jersey which if I must confess, played the more prominent part in my switching allegiances (Chuckles)
There’s a popular saying that goes thus “Give honour to whom honour is due.” Within the period that would come to be known as the Wenger Era when the annals are written, Arsene who? Later to become Le Professeur, worked wonders with the Arsenal team. From building an invincible team of players who went on an unbeaten run of 49 matches, to overseeing a costly transition from Highbury to the Emirates stadium, to unearthing and developing youngsters who went on to become world beaters such as Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie to mention but a few, everywhere at Arsenal, you could see Monsieur Wenger’s imprint, patiently weaving his legacy into the fabric of time at the club. But with those wins, also came the defeats. Developing our young players into world class players only to sell them on for shikini money, that 9year trophy drought which in my books is just unforgivable and losing your 1000th premier league match by a humiliating score line to one of your greatest rival to boot! Damn. Arsenal under Wenger brought me joy and they equally brought me pain. From being a delightful beauty to watch one moment to being extremely frustrating and flattering to deceive the next… such was the quality of play we often got and soon came to expect.
I for one, would have loved to see Arsene go out on a high by winning the Europa Cup, but sadly it wasn’t to be and with the last kick of the Premier league season, his long sojourn with the club he’s given his all for will have come to an end. And for all he has done for the club and its supporters, I salute and applaud I him.
Till you come our way again Arsene, Merci and May friendly lights guide you home.
