999 not out at Arsenal. Not bad for 'Arsene Who?'. This is the man who transformed not only Arsenal Football Club, but English football as a whole: Arsene Wenger.
The eve of his milestone 1,000th game as Gunners boss sees his side in the midst of a titanic four-way tussle for the Premier League title. And while success in the form of silverware has been hard to come by in the latter half of his reign as manager, the fact Arsenal are who and where they are today is solely down to him and his unparalleled genius.
Not forgetting the man behind the manager, David Dein, of course. He was instrumental in everything going forward for Arsenal during his tenure. He was the one who had the guts to sell Wenger to the board back in 1996, when in those days, plumping for an overseas manager was almost alien. But Arsenal fans, this one included, will be eternally grateful.
You can say what you like about the vast majority of the last decade, but no-one would have achieved the sustainability that Arsene did whilst paying off for the majestic Emirates Stadium. It may be a lot of ifs and buts, but we tend to take what we have for granted at times.
For example, not one Gooner, regardless of geography, would want us in Spurs' position now. They have an extra trophy in the cabinet, but their aspirations, both short and long-term, with season after season of (actual) failure and a new stadium plan are all but down the drain.
And what do we have? A state-of-the-art stadium, richly-talented players and a sound financial situation. Stadiums cost money. Players cost money. Success costs money - just ask the classless Chelski. And in the recent times that have seen Leeds United, Rangers and Portsmouth almost go out of existence, we have a hell of a lot to thank Arsene for, aside from the first nine years. He did not do an economics degree for nothing.
Up until 2005, Wenger's training methods, tactics and players made trips down memory lane for Arsenal fans the footballing equivalent of going to Disneyland. He got us playing in the Champions League from the off and has not stopped since (with a little bit of help from some dodgy lasagne), and his first full season saw the first of not one, but two doubles. Going for the hat-trick this year will undoubtedly be at the forefront of his mind.
Wenger was the one who revolutionised the way we see football. Creating a team almost from scratch - a team known for grinding out 1-0 wins transformed in a matter of seasons into the most attractive team in the country was down to a mix of almost brand-new preparation techniques and wave after wave of exceptional talent.
Diets were introduced, new stretching techniques - even prolonging the careers of Adams, Bould and co.. The infamous 'Tuesday Club' gatherings, which brought about the drinking culture at Arsenal and football in general were banished forever. Paul Merson left soon after, surprise, surprise.
All of this was from one man. The man who delivered league titles at Old Trafford AND White Hart Lane. The man who tirelessly innovated a unique brand of football into our DNA. The man who signed Andre Santos. Well, nobody is perfect - he was even mad enough to suggest we could go the whole season unbeaten back in 2002.
Ah, yes, the unbeaten season. Turns out he was only a year out. The 2003/04 campaign saw Arsene Wenger and his legendary team surpass new heights. Breaking up the Manchester United monopoly was one thing, but doing it in such a fashion was unimaginable. No matter what else he achieves in football, that will go down as his greatest achievement, if not the greatest achievement in the modern game.
You get the feeling, though, that even without that, Wenger's place in history - in London, in England, across the globe - is assured. To think that such an unknown can ply his trade in his native France and the football wilderness of Japan, and take the world by storm, this guy must be a true genius and a true legend of the sport. 1,000 games ago, we were nothing. Now we are one of the best teams in the land.
Congratulations, Arsene. Here's to the next 1,000.
The eve of his milestone 1,000th game as Gunners boss sees his side in the midst of a titanic four-way tussle for the Premier League title. And while success in the form of silverware has been hard to come by in the latter half of his reign as manager, the fact Arsenal are who and where they are today is solely down to him and his unparalleled genius.
Not forgetting the man behind the manager, David Dein, of course. He was instrumental in everything going forward for Arsenal during his tenure. He was the one who had the guts to sell Wenger to the board back in 1996, when in those days, plumping for an overseas manager was almost alien. But Arsenal fans, this one included, will be eternally grateful.
You can say what you like about the vast majority of the last decade, but no-one would have achieved the sustainability that Arsene did whilst paying off for the majestic Emirates Stadium. It may be a lot of ifs and buts, but we tend to take what we have for granted at times.
For example, not one Gooner, regardless of geography, would want us in Spurs' position now. They have an extra trophy in the cabinet, but their aspirations, both short and long-term, with season after season of (actual) failure and a new stadium plan are all but down the drain.
And what do we have? A state-of-the-art stadium, richly-talented players and a sound financial situation. Stadiums cost money. Players cost money. Success costs money - just ask the classless Chelski. And in the recent times that have seen Leeds United, Rangers and Portsmouth almost go out of existence, we have a hell of a lot to thank Arsene for, aside from the first nine years. He did not do an economics degree for nothing.
Up until 2005, Wenger's training methods, tactics and players made trips down memory lane for Arsenal fans the footballing equivalent of going to Disneyland. He got us playing in the Champions League from the off and has not stopped since (with a little bit of help from some dodgy lasagne), and his first full season saw the first of not one, but two doubles. Going for the hat-trick this year will undoubtedly be at the forefront of his mind.
Wenger was the one who revolutionised the way we see football. Creating a team almost from scratch - a team known for grinding out 1-0 wins transformed in a matter of seasons into the most attractive team in the country was down to a mix of almost brand-new preparation techniques and wave after wave of exceptional talent.
Diets were introduced, new stretching techniques - even prolonging the careers of Adams, Bould and co.. The infamous 'Tuesday Club' gatherings, which brought about the drinking culture at Arsenal and football in general were banished forever. Paul Merson left soon after, surprise, surprise.
All of this was from one man. The man who delivered league titles at Old Trafford AND White Hart Lane. The man who tirelessly innovated a unique brand of football into our DNA. The man who signed Andre Santos. Well, nobody is perfect - he was even mad enough to suggest we could go the whole season unbeaten back in 2002.
Ah, yes, the unbeaten season. Turns out he was only a year out. The 2003/04 campaign saw Arsene Wenger and his legendary team surpass new heights. Breaking up the Manchester United monopoly was one thing, but doing it in such a fashion was unimaginable. No matter what else he achieves in football, that will go down as his greatest achievement, if not the greatest achievement in the modern game.
You get the feeling, though, that even without that, Wenger's place in history - in London, in England, across the globe - is assured. To think that such an unknown can ply his trade in his native France and the football wilderness of Japan, and take the world by storm, this guy must be a true genius and a true legend of the sport. 1,000 games ago, we were nothing. Now we are one of the best teams in the land.
Congratulations, Arsene. Here's to the next 1,000.
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