Arsene Wenger’s fairytale with Arsenal football club began 17 years ago and according to the Sun, the Arsenal hierarchy is set to extend his contract with the club, as it is due to expire this summer. In recent times, the manager has come under serious stick from the fans as his team has failed to win any silverware since the 2005 FA Cup triumph over Manchester United and of course, the mass exodus of star players that have left the club for “greener pastures”.
Amidst the search for a trophy, there have been a couple of hit-and-miss moments as Arsenal has appeared in two League Cup finals in 2007 and 2011, only to suffer the heartbreak of defeat on both occasions. The Gunners went all the way for the Premier League title in the 2007/08 season but it ended in despair and also qualified for the Champions League and FA Cup semifinals in 2009, only to be ousted by Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.
In the transfer market, the high-profile departures of Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, $amir Na$ri and Robin van P£rsi€ caused turmoil as the Gunners were tagged as a “selling club” and the trend almost continued with Theo Walcott but he extended his stay with the club. Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna were also tipped to move away from the Emirates but the captain opted to stay and fight for his place while talks are ongoing with Sagna over a contract extension.
One of the key reasons why Arsene Wenger deserves a new deal with the club would be the massive success he has achieved in his 17-year stint with the club. Under the reins of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal suppressed Manchester United’s dominance in the 90’s as he won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups. In Europe, his team narrowly lost out of the 2000 UEFA Cup final against Galatasaray as well as the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona.
His class of 04′ will forever go down in history as one of the finest teams to grace the beautiful game and under Arsene Wenger’s tutelage, Thierry Henry matured to become one of the best finishers and all-round footballers in the world, Patrick Vieira was a force to be reckoned with in midfield, Cesc Fabregas grew to be one of the most technically gifted midfielders and Theo Walcott has changed from that over-hyped youngster to a clinical finisher that rakes up assists as well.
Wenger is also building a new team that is on the brink of achieving great things and his surprising capture of Mesut Ozil shows his ambition and drive to succeed at Arsenal. The acquisition of Ozil was a lift for the players and fans alike, and the player himself revealed that he had a conversation with the manager about what he had in store for him and his expectations for the campaign. With Wenger still at Arsenal for the long term, he can attract more players like Ozil, as he commands a lot of respect in the football world.
Another factor to consider would be Arsene Wenger’s undying loyalty to Arsenal football club. Unlike the club’s previous talismanic captain that claimed to be a Gunner for life before the little boy inside him screamed ‘Glory, Glory United’, Arsene Wenger rejected a move to Real Madrid in 2009, ruled himself out of the Barcelona job when Pep Guardiola resigned, rejected an international offer from Brazil in 2012 and also turned down a move to Paris St. Germain this summer following Carlo Ancelotti’s exit.
I know that to footballers, loyalty is a bit overrated but Arsene Wenger deserves a new contract for staying with the club through the good times and of course, bad times as well. When he replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Andrey Arshavin in the game against Manchester United in 2012, the same fans that sang his praises turned against him but he remained steadfast. Even after the loss to Aston Villa, the fans frustrations knew no bounds but he steadied the ship and his team is currently on a five-game winning streak.
Arsene Wenger’s players even have their faith in him and this was epitomized by Jack Wilshere’s interview with Zap Sports,
“I want to win things with Arsenal and I want to be there in the future, but if the boss leaves then things could change. Arsenal are always in my heart and by signing a deal for the next five years shows my commitment to them and their commitment to me so at the moment everything is good.
Arsene Wenger has been there for so many years and he’s always delivered trophies. We’ve had a little dip in the last five or six years, but he’s a great manager.
People who question his ability are ridiculous. He’s always qualified for the Champions League and I think he’s the right man for the job.”
Wilshere is where is today because of Arsene Wenger’s faith in him. After his successful loan spell at Bolton, Wenger retained his services in the 2010/11 season and he excelled admirably, earning the 2011 Young Player of the Year award at the end of that season.
Like Wilshere, there are many players within the team that owe their careers to Wenger and are willing to give their all for him, but the club has to ensure that he remains on the job by handing him a new contract.
In my honest opinion, I believe that Wenger is still the best man for the job and he deserves a new contract.
Sayonara.
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