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.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
It's not his "fault" so to speak but the shorter defenders are always going to be cheaper, Vermaelen is a prime example of this, there had long been interest in him but as he's not the tallest many teams that were interested didn't turn that interest into anything else and of course these "cheaper" players fit better into Wenger's spending plans. Secondly, he's not worried about their height, he's worried about their football ability and hence keeps producing attacking full-backs like he owns a production line. He probably could easily find height and be better at defending set pieces but Wenger's method is, you score 3, we'll score 4 and hence he'd rather enlist attacking players from back to front. And I think Chelsea's transfer ban could hardly have come at a worse time for them. Carvalho, Drogba, Ferreira, Deco, Lampard, Belletti and Anelka are all on the wrong side of 30 and Ballack has already hinted at retiring after the WC. That is a good section of their core squad, Carvalho, Ballack, Lampard, Drogba & Anelka are their spine (of course with Terry) and you can't expect players at that age to play Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday, that's why Giggs and Scholes are still so successful because Ferguson can rest them but Chelsea don't have a choice, they can't cover inevitable injuries, suspensions and this is a club that wants to compete for 4 trophies a season, spreading that aging squad over 60 games a season, well you make up your own mind. I'd say that next summer would have been their biggest transfer season since Abramovich took over, I would have envisaged at least 3-4 major signings (the type who go straight into the Starting XI) but this will cause them even more headaches because by the time they can acquire players again, Terry will also be over 30 and it will mean a mass change in the squad and it will further delay their chances of winning anything
David V.
Guest
Arsenal don't live beyond their means and never have. That means that if and quite likely when football experiences a major financial crash (itself a blessing in disguise), they're unlikely to be affected as much and will thrive.
sam.gilbert
Roar Rookie
"They’re all short so its got little to do with him being unable to get it right, he just hasn’t got the players for it" surely this is his fault? hes been in charge of this team for over a decade- theyre all players he's chosen, whos fault is it theyre weak at set pieces if it isnt his? also.. your comment about chelsea's transfer embargo- do you really think it will make that much of a difference? they do have a small squad, but i think they have the experience and class to get through it fine.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Wenger is on 50 Million pound salary? That would be news to everyone. I think C. Ronaldo is on about 12-13 million as the highest paid player in the world but Wenger is worth 4 times more?
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
I think Arsenal's squad contains enough talent that given time will come good. RE Set Pieces - Look at his defence. Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy. They're all short so its got little to do with him being unable to get it right, he just hasn't got the players for it, he prefers an attacking side from front to back (Gallas 3 goals already, Vermaelen 4, a brace at the weekend with a strike that Pele would have been proud of). He is there for the long term and financial regulations are coming sooner rather than later, as I said, once they're in place he'll be one of the few able to cope. Further, I'd prefer to be finishing in the Top 4 regularly as he has done without putting my club in financial turmoil than being the also rans like Chelsea and Liverpool who've invested hundreds of millions into squads which have won them nothing, Arsenal's debt is mainly due to the Emirates but its all part of a master plan, Liverpool & Chelsea have tried to buy short term success and have only succeeded in becoming broke.
DiCanio
Guest
Success can be measured in many ways Trophies is one Financial viability is another Sticking by your principles Turning coal into diamonds Even if they dont win the premiership, Aresenal are a pleasure to watch and a sustainable, interesting club with character. Ferguson is still the best manager, and I rate O'neill quite highly as well, but Wenger is to be appreciated for what he is and what he brings to the game
Alextman
Guest
What keeps Wenger in the job is that he is clearly the best manager that the Gunners would be able to get.
FIsher Price
Guest
He used to be a good manager but he's been negligent for the past five years. What keeps him in the job is that he delivers cash to the board, and profit is all that the club's hierarchy care about. Wenger should resign but he's clearly unable to pass up the 50 million pounds per year he rakes in for being negligent.
Ben W
Roar Rookie
All of the strengths you mentioned are correct, but right now his weaknesses are more detrimental. Wenger is more of a business man and people manager. He knows how to keep Arsenal financially viable and to instil confidence in players that have never been touted as stars. That said, he doesn't know tactics or how to win ugly. His substitutions are seldom effective and once an opposition team gets on top physically the story becomes all too familiar. Wenger can't teach defence either. Arsenal has been struggling from set pieces for a decade. Right now the club has two truly world class players, Fabregas and Arshavin, these two won't stay around to see if the "plan" comes to fruition. The deficiencies in the team are obvious and yet again Wenger did not address them this summer. He has brought a lot of success and some wonderful memories of scintillating football, but at some point the message loses its impact with the players. The game has changed directions and Wenger hasn't gone with them. I would love him to turn Arsenal's fortunes around, but am sceptical he is the man to do it.