As you would expect, Arsene Wenger was asked to reflect on his twenty years in charge of the club at his press conference today.
Tomorrow, October 1st, is the official anniversary, but today he was presented with a commemorative piece of silverware by Chairman Sir Chips, before the manager himself turned gift-giver.
He handed out specially commissioned pens to the assembled journalists, quipping, “Just so you can write good things about the club!”
In typical Wenger style he was keen to downplay the significance of moving into his 21st year in charge, saying, “I do not look back”, preferring to focus on the future.
However, he still had it in him to talk about his time at Arsenal, comparing it to a love story.
“It’s a love story, and with a love story you never want it to end,” he said. “You expect it to last forever but it can end any day.
“I accept it can finish tomorrow.”
And asked whether he expected any other managers to reach such a milestone, he continued, “It’s certainly unusual in the modern world. I think stability is very important and the values, the people who carry the values.
“For me a big club is first about values and its identity and the privilege I have to carry these values is very unusual in the modern game.
“I have a passion for the game and I always have a desire to improve.”
We also don’t want it to end. May it continue to last for a long time. #OneArseneWenger
Yeah, it’s the most played out love story on the planet. The first 6 or 7 years are blissful, but then you try and move to a bigger place but the mortgage payments cripple you financially. The kids come and all your time and energy goes into raising them and you lose all your old friends along the way. You lose your way a little, become frustrated and volatile to one another as it seems like the same shit year after year. But you plough through it, safe in the knowledge that your lives are incrementally better together than apart.… Read more »
^^^^^This^^^^^
Tough time doesn’t last but tough people do
Mein Bergkampf. Though your name may be inappropriate in a public forum (though certainly hilarious), you comment is one of the best things I’ve ever read on arseblog, and something I’ll be quoting to my grand kids when they ask me how it was being a Gooner at the time of Wenger. So thank you.
Bloody fantastic summary of the past 10 years.
20 years.
Mein Bergkampf, I frickin’loved your analogy! Really made me laugh
I really hope he wins the league title this year, not because its just for my own selfish wants and needs as an Arsenal fan, but I want it for Arsene so bad, especially on his 20th year and probably the most competitive season the Premier League has seen so far.
What an achievement it would be, the same year Maureen at United donks over a 100 Million into transfers and still can’t fucking win the league title. It would be glorious.
Winning the title in the year of the Managers would be special. To beat Conte, Klopp, Mourinho, Guardiola, Ranieri, Koeman, Pochettino would be a fantastic way to crown 20 years at the club #COYG
I love him. My biggest wish is for us to be successful this year in the league and/or CL, so that it gives him the support to continue for a few more years with renewed vigour
I hope he takes the premier league and all before him by storm over the next few seasons
‘Just so you can write good things about the club’ – ACE
There have been times over the last few years that I’ve thought he should probably bow out gracefully – but I’ve never understood the rancour towards him. He is a man who cares deeply about our club and has brought it enormous success against often very difficult odds. No-one deserves another title more than he does. It would be a crowning vindication for a true gentleman of the sport. I, for one, will be extremely sad when the day comes that he does call it a day. So many of my happiest memories of our great club have been created… Read more »
Couldn’t agree more
My sentiments exactly! Well put.
I’m an 87 year old, and remember
all the barren years, believe it was 17. We didn’t scream at the manager or boo the team off.
Wonderful what he has done for the club. I thank you so much MR. Wenger.
I remember it getting a bit nasty with Terry Neill in the end but yes, new supporters need to show the same level of class as the club does.
Nicely put, Growler!
In 2002 I fell seriously ill, the main part of my recovery took nearly two years. During this time I read many
books given to me, including renowned Dr. Deepak Chopra, for inspiration to aid my slow recovery. The most inspiration I got was from the words of AW, he once said something to the effect of ” If you take small steps each day, you will one day look back and see how far you’ve come”. That’s what I did, took those difficult small steps to recovery. The man is my hero.
It’s things like this that makes you realise there really is only one Arsene Wenger. Glad his words helped you.
Blogs, how about you create a post that will allow us to post the good things that we will always remember about Arsene Wenger
A living legend, not perfect but who is. An all time great. Will be remembered in a hundred years time as Herbert Chapman is today. Hope he can win some more titles before he leaves the stage.
“Good things about the club”, what a man.
absolutely adorable……….there is only one Arsene Wenger. already dreading the day he will call it a day….
Love him or hate him I hope they sing his name throughout the whole game on Sunday
I recall the extreme emotions I felt during the home match against Norwich, when the planned protest kicked off. I can’t even remember when last I felt so rotten when I saw the banners and the abuse being hurled at him. Then, when a group of fans started defending him, and sand “There’s only one Arsene Wenger”, the tears I cried were too real, and I hadn’t cried like that since my dad died. People seem to take for granted how much of his life Arsene has dedicated to the club, and how much he does and has done for… Read more »
The Wenger years: Arsenal’s quest for perfect football. Obviously, it’s been far from perfect, but isn’t life? In the last week or so, Arsenal has provided a glimpse of the type of football Arsene craves. True Wengerball. Happy anniversary, boss.
Posted under another article but as some have already said; I really hope Wenger wins the double this year! Really deserves it – I know there are unbelievably competitive teams out there, with corrupt refs favouring certain teams but by God if anyone deserves it it’s Arsene.
Why not the treble or hell I am greedy. Why not all the trophies on offer. You are a great man Monsieur Wenger.
I think it’s genuine love story, not the gold digging of managers like Mourinho or one night stands (3 year projects) like Pep.
I am going to cry when he leaves. I’m expecting a huge Wenger statue outside the Emirates. This is going to be the greatest love story if we win the league and dominate in the future.
Happy 20th Anniversary Arsene!
I would love AW to win the PL again, or the Champions League once if I may be so bold! He deserves it more than any other manager out there for his passion and dedication to football imho.
And may I say that, handing out specially commissioned pens to journalists is a personal and nice touch! I reckon among them were sure to be those who frequently slag him off…
This got me thinking: Did SAF do something similar at Manure in his 20th year? Classy Wenger is classy.
What do you mean by saying, “it can end any day?”
He knows the board can sack him any day.
It may not be likely, but they can do it.
He’s brought trophies, glorious football, wit and intelligence to our club. He’s forgotten more about the game than those who criticise him will ever know, let alone understand. So for that I think he’s earned the right to be stubborn, make mistakes and buy the occasional Park bench. I think he has made Arsenal greater than any of us would have thought possible before he came to the club, and he deserves endless thanks and credit for it. It’s entirely possible that there are managers in the world game who might come to our club and do a better job… Read more »
I want a pen from Arsene!
A true gentleman, and classy as ever.
A fan of 21 years, and I too will be sad the day he chooses to leave.
But what a legacy he will leave! I do hope though that it’s not for a while yet, as he still have the League Cup and Champions League to win 😉
Here’s for another 3, 5, 10 years – over to you Arsene!
he’s been like a father figure to me. One Arsene Wenger forever
Mr Blogs. I think u shld make a lityle book of all these lovely comments and make sure it’s delivered to Arsene Wenger just for him to see how much we appreciate him. Dat cld be our perfect gift for his 20th anniversary. Pls do.