Twenty Isn’t Plenty
Sep 30th, 2016 by 'holic
On Saturday I have to thump out a preview of our trip to Burnley which means I would have to abbreviate any attempt at covering the last twenty years in the life of Arsenal Football Club. The Arsene Wenger years have taken the club in a direction few could have foreseen in 1996, and even in the immediate ensuing years. I’m not sure anyone could adequately cover what has happened to the club we all love in those years, in the length of a blog piece.
Not all remember the arrival of Arsene Wenger, so long has he been in situ. I still have memories of that first partial season that cause me to feel shame today. We went into 1996/7 with first Stewart Houston, then Pat Rice in charge, albeit temporarily. There were rumblings of a new appointment, but actually the people I went with at the time weren’t averse to Pat getting a crack at the job. He was an Arsenal man, not like the sacked Bruce Rioch, who almost lost us the services of Ian Wright.
The rumblings didn’t go away, however, and although beaten just once in the League early doors, so very definitely title contenders, a UEFA Cup exit to Borussia Monchengladbach hastened the clubs desire to appoint Arsene Wenger. Conveniently forgotten these days, Arsene persuaded his Japanese employers, Nagoya Grampus Eight to let him terminate his contract early in order to take charge at the Gunners.
The new man had to suffer some scurrilous treatment in the English press. ‘Arsene Who’ was the least of his worries as the studious looking man entered what would prove to be a long term relationship with the ‘Tuesday Club’ and their successors. He wasn’t an immediate success. The arrivals of Remi Garde and Patrick Vieira were later proven to be the work of the man who knew he would be coming to Highbury. The latter made his debut as a substitute in the 4-1 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday in September. We knew we had a player, but not the man who had insisted on his signing.
To cut a long story short we were competitive all season, but the title was surrendered because we lost home and away to both Manchester United and Liverpool. The new boss largely kept to the back five he had inherited and slowly introduced his new ideas to a squad uncertain of his abilities. To those outside of Colney he seemed to be a good man, but not the finished article. The players, however, had already started to get the benefit of his methods.
The first full season under Arsene Wenger will long live in the memory of those of us lucky enough to have witnessed it. Eight players arrived in the close season, most notably Emmanuel Petit (another who? moment) and the dodgy-kneed Marc Overmars. The first half of the season was a mixed bag, but crucially included a 3-2 win against Manchester United at Highbury. We were competitive at last.
A disastrous start to December included a performance at home to Blackburn that resulted in Tony Adams being sent away for ‘treatment’ and Ian Wright taking issue with Gooners in Avenell Road beneath the dressing room window. At that time if someone had suggested the Wenger experiment had failed it would not have been a surprise. How he had been misjudged.
Minus his captain Arsene set up a run of form that still amazes and delights today. Although we trailed United by twelve points at the end of February (One bookie paid out to those who had backed the Mancs for the title) we put together a run of eighteen games unbeaten including the iconic 0-1 at Old Trafford courtesy of Marc Overmars wonderful finish. When the double was secured at Wembley against Newcastle United I think we knew we had a very special man in charge of the club.
Those two seasons set the tone for what would follow. Innovation, forward thinking, dedication. Arsene was the right man in the right time and place. When big decisions were needed, he invariably got them right. Nicolas Anelka, signed and a contributor to the double success, was led astray by his advisors and moved to Real Madrid for the £25m pounds that Arsene invested in the training ground at Shenley, next door to our former Colney base.
A young winger from Juve, short on confidence, was his replacement. Thierry Henry would make the next eight years a magical time for Gooners. A year later another winger by the name of Robert Pires arrived. With those two added to Dennis Bergkamp and Vieira Arsene had put four of the best players on the planet in one team, not that we realised it straight away.
A second double in 2002, achieved with ridiculous ease at the Millennium Stadium and Old Trafford, cemented Arsene’s place in Arsenal history. These were heady days for the supporters. The countless riotous evenings in the Twelve Pins testament to how awesome we were. Arsene had clearly built something very special. So special that ‘only’ landing the FA Cup in 2003 felt a little disappointing. Appreciation of what Ferguson was doing in Salford would follow later. Arsene had spoken of going a season unbeaten. The truly foolish ridiculed him for his ambition.
The following season that ambition saw fruition. Arsene’s team, challenged to beat all before them, responded. Much of the season was a stroll, but then the pointed end arrived. FA Cup and Champions League defeats in three days to Manchester United and Chelsea would have floored anybody. Liverpool led 1-2 at Highbury in the Easter sunshine. The mercurial Henry decided enough was enough. On the back of a magnificent 4-2 triumph we went on to be invincible. Arsene was totally vindicated.
The following season’s FA Cup shoot-out win against old foes United proved to be something of a watershed. We were on the move. The club needed a bigger stadium to compete, and Arsene, along with Ken Friar and Keith Edelman set about providing it. A farewell season at Highbury stirred the emotions. Memorable European nights against the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, and Villarreal, saw us go all the way to the Champions League Final.
What followed will divide Gooners for a while to come. We all have our ideas of what we had to go through in the years of transition from one home to another. What is clear is that against all the financial restrictions that we faced for a number of years the manager enabled us to qualify for the Champions League without interruption. We produced or signed some fine players, and sadly parted with them for a considerable and necessary profit.
Arsene took the brickbats in these years, occasionally bristling with indignation, but largely with a surprising degree of class, and emerged to land consecutive FA Cups in 2014 and 2015. Perhaps we overlook what an achievement those triumphs were?
And so to 2016/17. The odd major signing has happened in recent years. Ozil at £42m, Alexis at £35m, Cech at £10m. World class players being added to the squad. Finally this year the accrued cash generated by the stadium move was seriously deployed. The best part of a £100m splashed on Mustafi, Elneny, Xhaka, and Lucas. Arsene has earned the right to splash the cash he is largely responsible for generating.
He will be judged on this season more than any other as a result. It has to be said right now that it looks as though he may have retained his touch as a footballing alchemist. After an uncertain start the Arsenal have hit a rich vein of form, winning four matches comfortably, and counting bogey side Chelsea and FC Basel among their victims in the last week. Arsene most certainly has to deliver this season, but seldom in the last decade has the mood around the Grove been as positive.
Yes, we will have to produce many more performances to achieve what is now demanded of this different Arsenal, but who is best placed to deliver that right now? For me it is a man who has devoted twenty years of his life to making twenty years of my life quite memorable.
Thank you boss.
108 Responses to “Twenty Isn’t Plenty”
Let me be the first to congratulate you on a wonderful tribute, ‘holic.
You say Arsene most certainly has to deliver this season, but I think he already has with the addition of quality in all areas that has rounded out the squad nicely. Now it is down to the squad to deliver, imo.
…and on that note, I’m reposting my last from the previous drinks which ended up after your >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Back to the CL game … no one seems to have mentioned (apologies if I missed someone) that we could have run up a cricket score (for the second game in a row) but for woeful finishing and a large degree of relaxing in the second half. Was it only me worrying that Basel could have scored (probably should have scored) in a brief period of second half domination, which could easily have invited panic in the ranks?
Yes, on balance we were streets better, but I do wish we could really put teams to the sword with 5 or 6 more often than we ever seem interested in doing. There’s nothing wrong with a 2-goal cushion at the end of a game, but where is the ruthless streak other sides demonstrate in similar situations?
If we miss top spot in our group on GD I may mention this again!
Thank you Chris. 🙂
“For me it is a man who has devoted twenty years of his life to making twenty years of my life quite memorable”
And that line for me H, encapsulates everything I could ever want to say about him in a nutshell. He has enhanced all our lives and we’ll only appreciate it most when he’s gone.
And most importantly, thanks so much, as ever !
Spot on, as always, wise man…
Top writing, ‘holic and a fantastic tribute to a great man. 😀
Like Chris I want to highlight something I posted at the end of the last drinks because it is a unique tribute to AW that is well worth a read for anybody who is interested in the perspective from the man’s brother and a few others in his home town in Alsace.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/29/meet-the-other-wenger—arsenes-brother-reveals-the-arsenal-mana/
top man, holic, and top piece. stirred my heart and brought a lump up in my throat. we are indeed blessed. thank you.
Great article on Arsene, brought memories flooding back of great times we have had over the last two decades. More than trophies, it is the way he has got Arsenal playing is what makes him special for me. We will know how blessed we are to have him at the helm only after he leaves and I hope that is still at least five years away.
Excellent article. What I like about this site is that there is no-one with a limited mind set posting …. 1st……2nd…3rd etc etc.
12th!!!!!!!!!
Cheers H! Lovely stuff.
Thanks all.
The Arse and the ‘Holic showing such fine early season form – here’s hoping it could well be one savour … (thingies crossed). UTA, UTArsene & UT’H.
Tanx Holic for a brillant summary on dis iconic nd unique man who is an envy of many; unfurtunately human beings don’t value wat they hve until it is lost; your post welled up great emotions in me dat tears of joy dropped from my eyes ; my hope is dat Arsene will remain wit us until he is 70! He seemed tohve begun a new era of making d team competitive again nd it wuld be regretable if he fails to nuture d team to another glorious epouch.tanx to all faithful Gooners whose implicit confidence did not wane inspite of d plummerings, insane criticisms bothering on hate including d media penchant for negative writings nd d biased PGMO; they are all in for great suprise dis season.over d past 2/3 seasons I had said Arsenal was a team in d making now it is crystal clear AW haas completed d works let us seat back nd enjoy d manifestation of d completed works, dis is just d beginning many shall be stunned beyond their imaginations nd expectations.may d lord continue to bless d gud works of Wenger nd may d boyz deliver according to d scripts given dem by Arsene. SHALLOM!!!
Nice work Holic.
I hope that Arsene puts pen to paper one day – it will be a fascinating read although I suspect that there will still have to be much reading between the lines.
UTA.
I’ve got something in my eye………
I’ve just watched last night’s Premier League Show on iPlayer – thanks Cynic@45 in the previous bar for pointing it out. Well worth it.
My own favourite moments…
Piers Morgan starts going on about how Wenger inheritted such a great team – Bergkamp, Wright Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Bould, Keown, Winterburn, Vieira (admitting reluctantly that Wenegr might have influenced the Vieira purchase) – ends up with “I’m not being disrespectful…” Wright interrupts: “It sounds like you are”.
At the end after some disagreement over Wenger Ahht/Arsène Knows Best, Gaby Logan rounds up with “I hope you can all still be friends”. While Lawrence/Hartson/Wright/Morgan are saying how much they respect each other, Martin Keown can be seen in the background drinking his coffee.
COYG
Holic,
That is a superb tribute which encapsulates all all the key moments really well. You have a great gift which puts most of the blogosphere and Fleet Street to shame. Thankyou, the last line is brilliant!
Chris,
While we should have thrashed Basel their keeper blocked umpteen one on ones. We missed very few chances by blazing over or wide.
Pangloss
I watched the BBC programme and have similar thoughts to you. Morgan seems unable to comprehend the degree of loyalty and commitment Wenger has shown. He has frustrated the hell out of us in the transfer market but even now after a summer which felt frustrating he has made some brilliant signings . I would not pick a fight with Martin Keown!
Masterful piece Guvna. A fitting tribute.
For me too, Arsene is still the man to take us forward. The “man who has devoted twenty years of his life to making twenty years of my life quite memorable.” deserves to reap the harvest that will surely be the result of those last ten hard years.
Good point @2, Chris. It’s time to deliver.
TOOAW.
lovely stuff ‘hol
cheers
.
now for a bitta burnley battering
bénédictine anyone ?
‘Holic – I find that I haven’t previously congratulated you on last night’s magnificent piece. I can only imagine that I found it so admirable that I must have imagined my appreciation had somehow magically communicated itself to the bar. Daft of me. Sorry. Thanks and congratulations.
TTG – The narrow divisions between us run so deep that I often forget the broad sunlit areas of agreement. “Pick a fight with Martin Keown”, no indeed!
Fantastic piece ‘Holic (what Jackster says!)
Creme de menthe for me Cba, cheers. You know the stuff the pope drinks. That’s why they carry him around in a fucking chair.
I’d pick a fight with Piers Cunting Morgan, martini sytlee.
Cunt was never seen at Highbury, ever. Now he’s wheeled out as some sort of expert on Arsenal. Really, really fucking hate him and would just love to bump into him one day.
What a wonderful write-up.
Thank you ‘holic!
😀
Hear, hear.
The finger wag of Keown and the use of the phrase “my friend” was my favourite bit. My friend = you cunt in that context.
Awesome write up. Sat at work crying like a baby…not a good look!!
The man’s a genius. I think he would have transformed any club and am puzzled to this day why he has to face such criticism. Ask fans of any other club (and I include sensible Spurs fans!!) and they will tell you how they would have loved to have had Mr Wenger in charge. Having said that, he’s ruined a few weekends for me over the years..
what a brilliant post , Dave
chin chin chin esso
extra chin for when ye meet the morgan
if ever anyone deserved one
he’s the very fuckin fellow
That is a quality, quality post my friend. One of your best ever. Thank you.
Nice tribute ‘H.
As for watching anything on TV that involves Piers Morgan, I’ll pass.
Unless it is someone eviscerating the cunt with a rusty blade. 🙄
the Arsène 20 banner – such class
hats off to the geniuses who made it
Thanks all.
They are great lads, cba. I wish I was on one corner of that on Sunday.
What a beautiful piece, thank you for such a wonderful article, much appreciated.
that’d be the only way to make it classier , ‘hol
.
UP THE ARSENAL
Brilliant writeup about a quite brilliant man and an even better human being. Arsene Wenger has bettered the club from the time he was appointed till now and for me, that is his greatest achievement. When you are given a job and told to do your best and then on when you look at it and say, wow you did make it better, you are vindicated. Arsene has done that without a shadow of doubt.
The plaudits are pouring in for him but then so have the brickbats during his time. I wanted him to go when we won the FA cup in 2014 for I wanted him to go a high and preserve the legacy. Well if he does win something this year then it may still happen. I just am blessed i was there when he was there for our club.
Had to drop in to congratulate the Guvnor on one of the best blog posts I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.
Team right now is a pleasure to behold, we’ve 20 years of magnificent memories, and we did it all our way. There’s something to be said for that.
One Arsene Wenger.
COYG!
You’d be missing out Zico. They even placed him with his back to camera so his bald spot was on show.
Got my first plastic fiver today. It’s just wrong. It’s stiff and sterile whereas it should be crinkly and smell of money.
Like Peter Stringfellow.
Esso
My wife did bump into him literally going into the Ivy. He typifies everything I hate about Twitter because it gives a platform to tarts like him.
In my view the stadium should be renamed when he retires to be the Arsene Wenger Emirates stadium. He built it after all.
100% cynic
plastic notes ?
bollocks !
the ruination of “holdin’ foldin'”
“holdin’ kinda springs back into shape”
attracts absolutely zero ladies down the bookies
.
so i’m told
Fittingly excellent tribute, Guv’nor.
punctuate m’lud !
ye had me off on one there
Excellent and emotional read
Long live Arsene
Long live `Holic
Great piece ‘Holic! Cheers to you and Arsene!! Agree also with TTG that renaming the stadium after Wenger would be a fitting tribute…
Good financial results and strong financial reserves in our latest figures
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/arsenal/story/2962751/ivan-gazidis-targets-trophies-after-arsenal-post-191-million-in-cash-reserves
Is Steve T TW14`s secret personal trainer?
Watch the video included on this article on Theo.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/30/arsene-wenger-england-arsenal-one-day
Lovely tribute sir. Greetings from Dublin.
That’s a brilliant tribute for a true genius of a man.
The title of the article and those last words of the article were Wengerballesque in their magnificence. I just hope and pray that Wenger finishes with a similar flourish at the club – and hopefully not too soon.
There is no other manager in the world who exudes so much class, humility and a dedication to the game and for the club. A great football man at a great football club. It’s been a privilege and an honour to witness the football and evolution of Arsenal under Wenger.
As they say – One Arsene Wenger.
That got me a little shakey. What a wonderful piece to read Mr. Holic
The agent whose testimony was the basis of the Telegraph’s accusation that eight Premier League managers had taken bungs is now reported by the BBC to have said he lied to big himself up. The agent is himself unlicensed and previously banned from football for five years after being found guilty of match-fixing in 2005 — hardly the most credible of sources. This whole story — and its reporting and entrapment — is getting tawdrier by the moment.
Then set all that that against what we have at our club and the manager at the core of it. And be grateful.
Wonderful piece H. Honestly, I would buy at least 3 if it would help to get you bring a book out. Brilliant language about a brilliant era. Thank you
It’s probably ze german in me 🙂 With language I mean the choice of words which are truely worthy of the era they are describing.
Great post – A great tribute to a great man.
Post #24 – Right on
Does my head in when they wheel in Piers Morgan as “celebra-gooner” – there are so many other far more intelligent Arsenal fans people in sport / arts the media could call upon for a quote ; Just off the top of my head : Ian Poulter, Frankie Dettori, Lewis Hamilton, John Lydon, Ray Davies, Nick Hornby, Bradely Wiggins, Melvyn Bragg…the list is endless…
just watching jools holland
uninspired shite
like a Woolworths pick n mix
all different
all the same
always the same
always
but o so worthy
and syrupy
write a tune
without yer da’s records
somechance
nochance
mumchance
“Arsene Wenger Emirates stadium” (Ttg #41)
I like it, Ttg, AWE stadium … or, better still The Stadium of AWE. Has a ring to it.
sorry hol
on the beer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6u2v9tlXM8
Some good stuff on this bloke’s YouTube channel. And a lot of shit. But some good stuff.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/30/exclusive-harry-redknapp-reveals-how-his-players-illicitly-gambl/
——
‘Arry’s Twitching intensifies…!
😀
interesting cynic
love a visual a lotta them don’t they
if kate bush was a fat lass from doncaster
bereft of the ponsy arty on with a trowel noodling about she did
(which grates on and delights many )
just her good tunes
no eye numbing good looks
how different would the regard she’s held in be
same tunes
Fantastic piece on a true great. Keep em coming, thanks.
http://tinyurl.com/zt6w6s4
Keown on Arsene
Wonderful tribute guv’na to a magnificent man. Cheers.
She’d be Pete Shelley, 2016 version, cba.
Wonderful stuff, Holic.
So many history pieces – not yours – are collections of names, dates and events but fail to connect the reader to them.
Yours are something special. I don’t know what it is but they all have that magic ingredient that makes you feel you are reliving the event – not just reading about it.
Then, just when I’m enjoying it, that last paragraph leaves me all lumpy throated again.
Thanks for maybe your best ever.
Thanks for the memories Holic a very moving piece. As a true Arsenista I savour the past 20 years as his like will never pass this way again.
Never write Arsene off, there is still some unfinished business to be done and recent form gives us all something to look forward to this season!
COYRs
“Everyone Thinks they have the prettiest wife at home”. Still far and away the best comeback/put down ever uttered by a football manager – And to this day I can still see old red nose going redder and redder back reading it over and over again 🙂 Arsene surely has taken us on a magical mystery ride and could have jumped of at any point for higher wages and more chance of winning the bigger pots but he is not Ego driven unlike some – so my overriding view of the man is one of loyalty to the club we all love So Thanks Arses now go on in the next 3 Years to put a few ghosts to bed !
Up The Arse,
Arsene not Arses poxy phone ?
https://angryofislington.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/young-arsene.jpg
i own hair
i think i little bit like it
Lovely stuff with Arsene on Football Focus.
Interesting how Arsene’s English is relaxed, practically grammatically perfect and flowing in these situations compared to the sometimes awkward phrasing and hesitancy in post match interviews where people are trying to catch him out.
His honesty, loyalty and humility are amazing – the man is just class.
@79 sorry to hear about your uncle
hey presto –
i’m utterly nystified by your post –
what has racism got to do with my wife’s arse ?
and as if by magic
the fartnocker appeared
.
be sure to come back when you’ve less time to spend
8ball 80
proper chuckle
wish i’d thought o that ?
.
and
howdy uply?
how ye doin’ chief
yer tall tale – baseball bat in yer car boot
in case anything kicked off at the bowls
still my favourite ‘holic bar yarn
read it a few times now
8ball is a genius
Yep, just re-read it, 8ball. ??
Congratulations Hey Presto@79. The excellence of the responses is likely to ensure the continued presence of your “contribution”. Result.
COYG
howdy pan G
i really think 79 and 80
is genius
mind you , your fluid ornate language
used for thunder T ?
about difference and bright sunlit etcs
though not 8ball level
FOR IT IS HE
was still word throwing abouting at it’s best
Great stuff. 🙂
but yer still no 8ball
in contravention of my usual policy
i have decided not
to
shamelessly
nay
shamefully
try
and
get
the
ton
Happy Anniversary, Arsene!
Happy Anniversary, Arsene!
Hey Presto’s mystifying but vindictive diatribe is typical of those who claim that we would have been much more successful with another manager. They can’t name him- the default name given used to be Mourinho if you wanted short- term silverware and your club wrecked but now it’s Klopp or Guardiola both of whom are excellent managers. But not only could they have kept Arsenal in the CL every season on the budget he was set but more pertinently would they have sacrificed their professional success to build up a club as Wenger has?
If we are misty eyed it’s because we recognise that here is a man who has given extraordinary service to a club in the face of the sort of churlish abuse typified by HP’s comments tonight. From time to time he has stretched our patience and given us a sense of deja vu but in long relationships those sort of things happen.
There is no manager in world football who could have kept Arsenal competitive in the situation Wenger found himself. One day perhaps he will receive the gratitude and recognition he deserves .
And HP if you want to make an impression try to be amusing and not unintelligible .
oooooohhh get you !
all manly
how’d I do
funny , right ?
Try again.
I’ve split my sides .
What do you call a fly with no wings ?
A walk ! ! !
Eh ,howzabout that then , a walk !
No wings
I’m killing it here
Killing it like Macca at Live 8.
Everybody buzzing their tits off after Pink Floyd and on comes Macca.
Flat as a witch’s tit goes the crowd.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>