Quite rightly Sir Alex Ferguson and his glorious achievements dominate all of the headlines but when I drove away from Old Trafford on Saturday it was his counterpart who was uppermost in my thoughts.
Ferguson and Arsene Wenger used to have the sort of relationship the Scot currently enjoys with Benitez and have never actually enjoyed a post-match glass of wine, a tradition the Glaswegian likes to uphold.
Wenger: seems down
Yet whilst the teams were warming up Arsene readily accepted an invitation for a cup of tea and a cosy chat with his Ferguson.
The weary Arsenal manager seemed desperate not only for company he respected but to hear a voice of reason and understanding in the increasingly mad world of football management. I would love to have known what was said.
What Wenger has achieved in recent years is like mixing it with the big boys in Formula One with a car you knocked up in the shed yourself.
Geoff Shreeves
Quotes of the week
When I spoke to Wenger myself I have never seen or heard him so down. To say that he was upset by the criticism he received at the shareholders meeting a few days before is an understatement.
Appalled doesn't come close either, insulted to the core would be about as accurate as I could describe it.
The "no trophies in four years" line is the familiar refrain from various dullards but what they fail to understand is that this French alchemist took Arsenal to the last four in Europe not even on a shoestring budget. More like a badly stretched single thread, which if my reading of body language is correct, like Arsene, is about to snap.
What Wenger has achieved in recent years is like mixing it with the big boys in Formula One with a car you knocked up in the shed yourself.
No favours
I cannot believe any true Arsenal fan would not worship the ground Wenger walks on if they were aware of the true financial restraints he works under, and the directors of the club have done him no favours here by constantly briefing journalists that "he just won't spend the tens of millions we offer him".
The rumours that Wenger being courted by Real Madrid is no surprise but his response in the press is nothing short of astonishing.
"In general I always go to the end of my contracts". In general? One thousand per cent more like. He has been offered countless top jobs with mega salaries and astronomical transfer budgets over the years and his response has always been the same: "I never break a contract".
Yet now he responds "In general?" For me, those two words spoke a thousand.
If you are a true Arsenal fan, be very afraid.
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Comments (259)
Denis thomas Bagenal says...
are you kidding me arsene is the best manager in the world all you so called arsenal fans have a short memory we play great football in agreat stadium who brought us all this even if we played crap football once a gooner always a gooner thru thick and thin come on and get behind arsene and the boys IN ARSENE WE TRUST
Posted 11:09 13th February 2010
Jack Bennett says...
i really love watchin arsenal play football i think it is fantastic as some people say arsenal are like my second club.... arshavin is a great buy for you and will score you some great goals like the one at liverpool..... there is a doubt in my head tho because wenger said if that person takes over then he will leave and he leaves fab will leave 100 percent.... i hope he stays and you go on to win a cup......and splash some cash in the transfer window....... good luck arsene (((((come on the villa))))))
Posted 20:14 23rd December 2009
Ariel Kagan says...
As a huge Arsenal fan the only thing I need to say here is IN ARSENE WE TRUST! There should be no question! Everyone makes these claims that we let Flamini and Hleb leave without any effort, but why keep players who dont want to play for us! Rosicky is back,Vermaleen is interesting purchase.... Arshavin was a great aquisition! Now all we need is a bruiser!!!! Palacios is Tottenhams, Essien is Chelsea's now we need ours... Inler or Melo would do well, even take a gamble on Zakora... However Wenger knows what we need and when this young squad hits its peak and we winning trebles I want everyone who called for Wengers head to fell ashamed! Wenger is Arsenal!
Posted 10:31 6th July 2009
Matt Shaw says...
Wenger is a legend. He achieved 4th position with a team of kids and an arrogant French defender. The board say they would make money available should he ask for it - HE SHOULDNT HAVE TO ASK, IT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HIM. They treat him like its Bolton not Arsenal. The board are a disgrace. I'm a huge Arsenal fan but I hope Wenger goes, not because I think hes doing a bad job but because you never know what you have until you lose it. Who would replace him? Mourinho wouldnt, but who else would you want to? No top manager would want to follow him into management of Arsenal. So we are stuck with Tony Adams then. No offence but I'd prefer to keep hold of Mr Wenger
Posted 08:42 2nd June 2009
David Peetham says...
Honestly, Wenger has a genius football mind, and we as fans need to remember that no body is perfect, not even Alex Fergie. I remember Wengers first full season where he won the double. Who would have predicted that after Uniteds dominance, as well as how far behind Arsenal were before Wenger. I know 4 trophyless seasons may seem harsh to a club like Arsenal, and I know fans will start looking for excuses as to why this is happening, because they are tired of friends making fun of them. Just remind yourselves that we do play the best football in the land, with the youngest squad. I truly believe this new season will show a totally different Arsenal side. The players have become stronger, and I know they will deliver. Wenger will sharpen up the midfield, and bring in another central defender. Fab, Diaby and Adebayor didn't have a good season, and they will need to put that right, coz they have set high standards already.
Posted 14:37 1st June 2009
Shakeel Rehman says...
arsene will stay at arsenal for another 3 years or so. he is one of the best there is and he has an eye for young talent and he is the 'special one'. i think arsenal should dig deep and buy world class players such as xabi alonso or david villa but they definetely need to buy a holding player in midfield like yaya toure.
Posted 21:36 29th May 2009
Jeremiah Owiti says...
I am an ardent Arsenal fan of more than 10 years. I agree with all those who say Wenger is the greatest manager Arsenall has ever had. IWe would have been much the worse without him, no doubt. I would therefore want to see him guide the club to grateer success over the next few years. I do however think it is approproiate to interrogate some of his policies and stubbornness, particular in regard to the release of players in the prime just when they look set to win trophies for Arsenal. Look at how the Ashley Cole issue was handled...we lost a potential leader and Arsenal acedmy product who adored the club haggling about 5,000 pounds a week more. What about Flamini, Hleb etc. In 2007/08 season the midfield comprising the two guys just missed on winning the premiership then they were let go so easily it was embarassing. We never made the players know we wanted them to stay. ..it is not always the money. Ashley Cole's position has never really been filled. Remember how Clichy's nonsense at Birmingam cost us the premiership in 2007/08, or how he conceded the freekick (due to lack of physical strength) that resulted in Alex's sucker punch in the game with PSV in the champion's league that year? Can u imagine rookies of average ability like Kieran Gibbs playing in the position Ashley has made his own for England.?..need i remind you of that costly slip against Man united in the champion's league and the senseless backpasses across goal that keeps the keepers under constant threat? These kind of things , coupled with an indecisive/ponderous demenouir in concluding deals in the market of players have cost us alot. IN WENGER I TRUST BUT...WE NEED RESULTS.
Posted 16:34 28th May 2009
Jordan Tyra says...
arsenal need to buy a couple of experinced players because this is getting abit upsetting now. I was starting to get abit upset with the manager until i realised that it isn't his fault. WENGER TO STAY!
Posted 13:19 27th May 2009
Zulfiqar Ali says...
Arsene staying is the best news fans have heard this season. For all you dumbs out there seeking his exit, y in the world do u think that a club as mighty as Real will be looking at Wenger (who has not won anything in the last 4 years)? y not they lure the Special One or stay with Ramos who has done a great job or get the World Cup winner like Scolari? Just bcoz they know very well the only way to catch Barca is via AW style combined with their resources. The bid is a proof in itself that AW still is the best Manager in the world. It does hurt when we dont win, but what I love more is to see that expensive brand of football in motion. No matter what all the TRUE SUPPORTERS will always back HIM. IN ARSENE WE TRUST!
Posted 06:54 21st May 2009
George Tembo says...
yes wenger will leave arsenal one day. but the time is not now. the man is just a genious. i do not believe he is going to walk away on his unfinished project. the man has got so much faith in his young team. if anything, it is his players who are not paying back that faith. to all the true gooners, keep up the faith. glory days will be back.
Posted 22:37 20th May 2009
Alex C says...
Arsene is one of the all time best managers. i'm only 19 and i'm romanian. I lived and breathed arsenal for the last 6 years, not long, but i am getting the feeling that fans that have been there long before i've been are loosing faith and they are being "brain washed" by the media and i am enlighted by an article such as this 1. i cannot deny that i am deeply upset by the latest results, but if wenger raised arsenal's profile this high then how can you doubt him, even this ideea of him getting sacked from his position. maybe he is a old fashion manager and doesn't believe in throwing 100 mil for 2 or 3 players . But one question ask your selfs if he is to be questioned then why is he wanted by the biggest clubs out there because they believe in his work. Amin. in wenger we trust.
Posted 21:29 20th May 2009
Christopher O'brien says...
Richard Murphy - Manchester United didn't 'sell the club down the river', they were acquired in a hostile takeover. Besides, Arsenal are soon to be under the control of either an American or Uzbek billionaire.
Posted 20:00 20th May 2009
Craig Emery says...
Lets be real here, if we aren't challenging on at least 2 fronts next season (including the prem) its time for him to go anyway. As much as i love the guy. We need to be winning things!
Posted 16:23 20th May 2009
Robert John says...
I think Wenger will stay. He lives and breathes Arsenal and 90% of the time does things right. He makes the odd mistake here and there but hey he is only human. I just wish rather than tipping people of like Steve Bruce about players like Palacios and Valencia that he would keep that stuff to himself and bring them to Arsenal. Maybe they would not have fitted in but still make 40million from 1million he would have paid for them. At the end of the day we must face the fact we are paying for the stadium for the forseeable future and once that is finally paid off we can then start spending big. He is a Hero at Arsenal and has brought more success to Arsenal than any of the shareholders combined. In my eyes I would rather them go than Mr Wenger. Those Shareholders need a reality check. Please stay Wenger Arsenal NEEDS you.
Posted 16:22 20th May 2009
Ben Thomson says...
so turns out he's staying thank god. wenger is a legend and with 2 or 3 good signings this summer we can have another team of invincibles! everyone laughed at wenger when he said he could get a team to go a whole season unbeaten, hes just building up another team that will lead us to glory. about time the board stepped up and gave him some serious cash otherwise the fans will turn on them!
Posted 14:40 20th May 2009
Raza Rizvi says...
'Db q' you're an absolute disgrace matey!!!! Another one of those who came on to the Arsenal 'winning' band wagon. If you don't like it mate then why don't YOU go. TRUE Arsenal fans don't want fans like you at our club. I've been living in the midlands now for the past 12 years, and I now even see Chelsea shirts around which would have been quite laughable 10 years ago. These aren't TRUE fans, they're just a bunch of glory hunters if you ask me!!!!
Posted 13:16 20th May 2009
Chilun Liu says...
Wenger has performed extremely well during these last few manic years. He has always spent wisely and in most cases, managed to get top money for them when they move on (Anelka, Vieira, Henry). To be honest, the squad needs roughly 5 players (2 * DCs, 1 * DMC, 1 * GK and a goal machine that can get you 25 goals per season min). Once Wenger manages to win a Champion's League trophy - I think he will leave as he has won everything else. Give him 2 more years and they will challenge. Remember, when he took Arsenal over - they were going nowhere. He deserves more credit than what some Gunners fans are showing.
Posted 10:30 20th May 2009
Sue Roberts says...
I have been an Arsenal fan since I was 15 (45 years now) and am at a loss to read and hear the criticism and pillorying of Arsene Wenger. The man has been our club's salvation. So what - 4 years with no silverware. The man is building our club for the future - with far less money to spend than the other 3 leading clubs. All he needs to do is buy maybe two more players and amongst the chosen players, hopefully a leader will emerge - that for me is the main reason why maybe we havent been so successful + injuries. The man in my opinion is a genius and that fact is recognized by his peers - so all you "so called Arsenal fans" get behind the man and the team. You doubters have acted disgracefully - leaving games before the end, etc. I wish I could afford to attend matches - you wouldnt see me leaving I can tell you. More money than sense obviously! Please, all of you that attend the match this weekend - make your voices heard in a positve way. If Arsene leaves my beloved club, it will be down to the doubters and those with no vision.
Posted 10:23 20th May 2009
Greg Kemble says...
Its all to easy to become a critic of Arsenal. Crippling injuries to his entire sqaud throughout the season has played a huge part of arsenals demise. Can anyone name a month this season when he could say he had a full strength side? Wenger started this process of youth along time ago - its the same youth that got them as far as they did without the so called experience. For anyone to suggest that wenger would walk away from the job at this late stage is madness. He was warned by one of his top former strikers that you need the squad along with the stadium I dont think you will see 4 - 5 players walking through the door in the summer! 2 at a maximum and when and if you do see it, it will be whos he? As an arsenal fan you can see the areas which need to be strengthend. I got more of a bye bye feel when adebayor gave an interview.Arsene wenger should remain doing the things he has done over the past decade. i think he should put in offers for wolfsberg centre forward david silva, plus a defensive midfielder(yaya toure) and a centre half - get shot of silvestre - his past his sell by date and will become a burden to the payroll/bendtner can take a hike too - but the one thing i hope does not happen is what happens every year - we drag our heels in the transfer market and potentially miss the opportunity to sign the players many people wolud like to see the club sign.
Posted 09:44 20th May 2009
Robert Whyte says...
I think Wenger will leave and it will be a great shame for the Premiership as well as Arsenal. Just like when Mourinho left it will leave a big talent gap in the EPL. He doesn't deserve to be criticised, he's done an amazing job. I undestand the fans want trophies, so do Newcastle Uniteds fans want trophies, they're going to get relegated while Arsenal enjoy another season fighting for the title. If the shareholders don't think he's good enough, then who is? Arsenal will end up like Chelsea, Newcastle, Man City and all the other clubs who sack their managers because of a few poor results.
Posted 07:36 20th May 2009
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