The Frenchman polarises opinion like no other. He is a thinker, a polyglot, a champion of fair play, an astute tactician and prudent economist. He has a keen eye for talent, exceptional people skills and has never been afraid to speak his mind.
Indeed, it was the Arsenal manager who led the chorus to have Eduardo’s two match ban for diving overturned labelling, UEFA’s actions a “complete disgrace” and deeming it a “witch hunt”.
Wenger was part of the three percent minority slamming the decision.
But it was his steadfast resolve in this case which helped Arsenal get the decision reversed.
His public support of players is (in)famous, too often he – very conveniently – misses controversial incidents involving his players, but has a perfect view when one of his own players is wronged and it’s this blindness for which he is loved or loathed.
However, there are a few things that a football-lover, even a die-hard Manchester United fan such as yours truly, can’t help but admire.
Youth Policy:
He has never been afraid to give young talent a go and this at one of England’s biggest clubs. He plucked such players as Patrick Vieira, Nicolas Anelka and, most famously, Theirry Henry, from big European clubs and gave them the chance to play.
Furthermore, he gave George Weah, Africa’s only world footballer of the year, his big break while in charge of Monaco back in 1988.
His starting line-ups have an average age of around 24, his captain is a 22 year old and he doesn’t “stockpile talent”.
At Arsenal, age is no barrier.
Support of Players
While he can be extremely frustrating in his support of his players, it can also be a real breath of fresh air. Emmanuel Eboue would certainly attest to this.
Just ten months ago he was booed off the park by his own fans, very unusual by Gooner standards.
But in the last match against Wigan, he was playing like a man possessed, bombing forward and constantly troubling the Latics back four.
All the planning, it seemed, had been to negate Fabregas and Eduardo, but it was Eboue who really drove the team forward, particularly in the first half.
Too often nowadays managers identify players and are quick to disregard them after a few poor performances, particularly those in the hot seat at Big 4 clubs.
Wenger, on the other hand, has his “projects”, he obviously saw something in Eboue and has stuck by him and it’s now paying dividends.
Spotting talent is easy, it’s harnessing that talent, developing it and deploying it on the pitch that is the real challenge facing managers today, and Wenger is one of the few who can do this.
Financial Nous
It probably helps that Monsieur Wenger has a Master’s in economics, but he is one of the most astute managers when it comes to the transfer market.
You won’t see him go on a spending spree. He’d rather buy a rough diamond and polish it, and on the occasions that he has gone for the finished article, he’s refused to pay over the odds.
It is this attitude, to keep his club running soundly, which won’t win him widespread acclaim.
But once stronger financial regulations are introduced, he’ll be one of the only managers properly equipped to deal with them.
Beautiful Football
Wenger has always fashioned teams that play beautiful, free-flowing, attacking football.
Indeed, he probably would have won more titles with the Gunners had they been capable of eking out scrappy 1-0s.
However, he has refused to budge on his ideology, which is something to be admired.
The 2003-04 Arsenal side, “The Invincibles”, the first team since the 1880s to go through an English season undefeated, will not just be remembered for being unbeatable but for the way they played.
Bergkamp was delectable, Vieira unmovable, Pires incredible and Henry simply unplayable.
The Professor is often criticised by fans of other teams. I, too, have bellowed my vitriol at him as a younger man on the Old Trafford terraces.
But over time I’ve learned to appreciate him. It’s a love-hate relationship, but Gooners know how lucky they are to call him their own.
This year won’t be Arsenal’s.
Next year they’ll challenge, especially if Chelsea’s transfer ban is upheld. But given time, Wenger’s project will come good and we’ll again be treated to something akin to 2003-04.
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