By Nana Quojo Antwi-Boasiako
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| Arsene Wenger |
In
1996, when Arsene Wenger was appointed the manager of Arsenal Football Club, journalists and fans
alike asked a question that showed their discontent and shock and to a larger
extent their disrespect, “Arsene Who”?
I
was a little boy back in 1996 and to be honest didn’t know anything about
football. I was just 7 years when Arsene Wenger was appointed and didn’t know
much about the scepticism that surrounded his arrival in 1996. I found out
about it in one of my numerous readings when I became an Arsenal fan just
before they went unbeaten in the 2003-2004 season.
Arsene
Wenger was brought in by the then Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Dein who I
suppose knew Wenger and trusted him so much. What was interesting was that, Arsene
Wenger was arriving from Japan where he was managing a Japanese side called the
Nagoya Grampus Eight from 1995-1996.
Arsene
Wenger quickly proved his doubters wrong by winning in 98 and 2002 seasons and
endeared himself to the fans. Arsenal that was touted as “boring boring Arsenal”
were suddenly playing the most beautiful football ever seen on English soil and
British soils at large with players like Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira,
Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljumberg, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo
Toure, Jens Lehmann to mention a few.
Arsenal
moved to the Emirates Stadium from their beloved home ground, Highbury in 2006
exactly 10 years after Wenger’s appointment. That was in truth supposed to be a
big big step forward and a catalyst for positive changes and transformation in
terms of finances and trophies. Unfortunately, Arsenal FC have won 2 FA cups
since moving to the Emirates in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons. The emirates
stadium has seen so many talented footballers like Cesc Fabregas, Robin van
Persie, Samir Nasri, Andrej Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Alex Song,
Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Adebayor etc.
Players
would always want to win trophies and Arsenal FC could meet their objectives so
they left for clubs that were winning trophies seasons in seasons out. Arsenal
were not competitive in terms of player purchases and paying big wages simply
because they were paying for the cost incurred in constructing the Emirates
Stadium.
In
2013, Arsene Wenger publicly stated that he is ready to spend big on quality
players and backed his comments up with signings of Mesut Ozil and Alexis
Sanchez for 42.2 and 35 million pounds respectively. With all these two players
Arsenal has not won the English Premier League and has only 2 FA cups to show
for it.
To
the amazement of the football world and the annoyance Arsenal fans, Arsene
Wenger decided against buying an outfield player in the summer. He only brought
in Petr Cech a goal keeper from Chelsea FC. He turned blind on the main
problems of Arsenal that is, in the striking position, the defensive midfield
and the defence itself with a centre back needed. He came up with excuses that
he didn’t find anyone of quality on the transfer market that would improve his
squad, which clearly didn’t add up. He always comes out with excuses like that
for the past decade and Arsenal has been finishing 4th for so long
and fans obviously are not happy about it especially after seeing Leicester
City and Tottenham Hotspurs perform better than Arsenal.
Arsene
Wenger as I type this article is beginning to lose his most loyal supporters.
In his recent press conferences, he seems to be taking jibes at his own fans who
has previously and currently been expressing genuine concerns. Arsenal fans has
been enduring so much pains for far too long and I feel their needs are not
catered for. Their relationship with Wenger especially this season is not the
best. Wenger has been subjected to insults on various social media and has received
lots of boos inside the Emirates stadium. Now their chances of winning the
league is over after so much promise and even finishing in the top 4 is
becoming a difficult task.
What
irks Arsenal fans are his recent comments that Arsenal will survive if Spurs
finish above them that amounts to apathy. That actually has not happened since
he took over in 1996. He does not listen to the fans anymore and there is
obviously no sign of enthusiasm to mend the broken relationship between himself
and the fans.
A
man that was idolised and revered so much is now hated by the fans. Fans come
to the stadium with banners thanking Wenger for everything he has done but it
is time for him to leave
My question is, has the relationship between
Wenger and the fans run its course?
Nana, u have said a lot but for ur information I stop supporting Arsenal just after the 2005/06 because there was nothing better coming from Wenger and Emirates...its time Wenger steps out for another person to come in.....
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