Arsène Wenger; the greatest manager ever....

[GENERAL_SNM]

Anniversaries are invariably a time for reflection and when Arsène Wenger celebrates his 13th at Arsenal he could be forgiven for wallowing in satisfaction. "Arsenal is Arsenal because of him," said the defender Gaël Clichy, who is the current squad's longest-serving player.

The Frenchman has not only won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, making him the club's most successful manager, he has also established them as a 21st-century power with their move to the Emirates Stadium. For the statisticians, Wenger now becomes Arsenal's longest-serving manager, having eclipsed George Allison (1934-47).

Wenger, however, has no time to dwell on the past. When he is forced to look back, the arch-perfectionist gives the feeling that it is predominantly the bad moments that remain seared on to his mind. He has admitted that, as a young manager, defeat would leave him physically sick and, as he approaches his 60th birthday on 22 October, he says the mental anguish of losing gets even more pronounced. Last week he commented that his team's unbeaten Premier League season of 2003-04 was "the only time I thought I did a good job".

Wenger's hunger for a first piece of silverware since the 2005 FA Cup is all-consuming and it is reflected in his players. But Wenger has essentially not changed much in his 13 years and he continues to cajole his young squad towards what would be the vindication of honours. For him, the carrot rather than the stick, or the flying boot, has to be the instrument of choice. "Throwing boots can sometimes be a good idea," he said, with a smile, "but it is not my basic strength."

"Maybe for some people," Clichy said, "it would be better to be pushing the players more and getting more angry but, overall, he has been here 13 years and you cannot say that the way he manages the team is not good because he has done incredibly well and we respect him.

"I have seen him angry but, most of the time, he waits and talks to you face-to-face. He doesn't like to talk in front of everyone and the players know that when you make a mistake, it is up to you to ask yourself the right questions and put it right. He is really professional and human. He has only one word and if he says something, most of the time it happens."

Like his great rival at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger is always the first in to the training ground every morning and the last to leave. He has said he does not believe in retiring and Peter Hill-Wood, the Arsenal chairman, feels that he could continue in the job "for another 10 years. He is showing no signs of slowing down."

"In the last few years, we haven't won anything and people talk badly about him," said Clichy. "But Arsenal is today one of the best clubs in Europe and a big part of that is because of the boss. We have to support him, the players want to play for him and win something for him and so I think it is going to be a great season. The only thing he says is 'Play the way we play'. He gives a lot of confidence to the players. We are the players we are today because of him."

Stan Kroenke, the club's largest shareholder, has increased his stake to 28.7%, after buying a further 80 shares for £680,000. If the American businessman were to reach 29.9%, it would trigger a formal takeover offer for the remainder of the club. Kroenke has more than doubled his stake over the past year.

[Gaashaanle_87]

fargie is better than him

[GENERAL_SNM]

fargie is better than him

Muinich

How's that on the runway who's that in the snow its those fockin busby babes making all the fockin noise...

[1_londoner]

Hey, I was on my way to make a topic about Le Professor!

My My...13 years. This guy changed the way Arsenal play alright and was the guy that created that oh so beautiful game the gunners produce now. The Flair, the style, the hot one-touch passing...man, Arsenal are probably the only club where they can play 5 stalemates on the bounce and neutrals would still want to watch them week in week OUT. 11 titles with Arsene plus the only club to ever go through the whole season unbeaten...(INVINCIBLE ERA!!! DHAC DHAC!!!) not even something Fergie who has been at United for nearly double the amount of time as wenger (23 years) can match.



*~*~*~*In ArSeNe wE TrUsT~*~*~*~*

[abdikarim86]

Hey, I was on my way to make a topic about Le Professor!

My My...13 years. This guy changed the way Arsenal play alright and was the guy that created that oh so beautiful game the gunners produce now. The Flair, the style, the hot one-touch passing...man, Arsenal are probably the only club where they can play 5 stalemates on the bounce and neutrals would still want to watch them week in week OUT. 11 titles with Arsene plus the only club to ever go through the whole season unbeaten...(INVINCIBLE ERA!!! DHAC DHAC!!!) not even something Fergie who has been at United for double the amount of time as wenger (23 years) can match.



*~*~*~*In ArSeNe wE TrUsT~*~*~*~*

what was it 49 unbeaten games

i used shove this under man u nose everyday

[yunis09]

one nil to the arsenal ..good old days.....londoner come on now arsen had the french squad in those years....it wont happned again....it was one off unlike sir alex who keeps producing champions time after time ....

[1_londoner]

Hey, I was on my way to make a topic about Le Professor!

My My...13 years. This guy changed the way Arsenal play alright and was the guy that created that oh so beautiful game the gunners produce now. The Flair, the style, the hot one-touch passing...man, Arsenal are probably the only club where they can play 5 stalemates on the bounce and neutrals would still want to watch them week in week OUT. 11 titles with Arsene plus the only club to ever go through the whole season unbeaten...(INVINCIBLE ERA!!! DHAC DHAC!!!) not even something Fergie who has been at United for double the amount of time as wenger (23 years) can match.



*~*~*~*In ArSeNe wE TrUsT~*~*~*~*

what was it 49 unbeaten games

i used shove this under man u nose everyday

Yeah man...such a shame it was those same damn bastaars that stopped us reaching number 50.

Gooners however made up for it with "The battle of the buffet" aka 'Pizzagate'.

[abdikarim86]

Hey, I was on my way to make a topic about Le Professor!

My My...13 years. This guy changed the way Arsenal play alright and was the guy that created that oh so beautiful game the gunners produce now. The Flair, the style, the hot one-touch passing...man, Arsenal are probably the only club where they can play 5 stalemates on the bounce and neutrals would still want to watch them week in week OUT. 11 titles with Arsene plus the only club to ever go through the whole season unbeaten...(INVINCIBLE ERA!!! DHAC DHAC!!!) not even something Fergie who has been at United for double the amount of time as wenger (23 years) can match.



*~*~*~*In ArSeNe wE TrUsT~*~*~*~*

what was it 49 unbeaten games

i used shove this under man u nose everyday

Yeah man...such a shame it was those same damn bastaars that stopped us reaching number 50.

Gooners however made up for it with "The battle of the buffet" aka 'Pizzagate'.

man that was time ago

[*Nobleman*]

Edit title to 'greatest arsenal manager ever'. I admire wengers method, his youth policy etc buts its style over substance.

As Mourinho said 'his the only manager of a top 4 side, that can go 4 seasons trophy less and still have his job secured'.

Greatest manager without a doubt is fergie. Arsenal talk about pretty football, 49 games unbeaten etc, but what fergie has achieved in club football is mind numbing.

[*Nobleman*]

fargie is better than him

Muinich

How's that on the runway who's that in the snow its those fockin busby babes making all the fockin noise...

Same old arsenal, always cheating. Sang at every stadium across the country. Another spurs favourite:

There's only one Arsene Wenger,
Only one Arsene Wenger,
With a packet of sweets and a cheeky smile,
Wenger is a f*cking peadophile

[Queen_Arawello]

Arsenal -world's finest soccer team and Wenger is first class coach without doubt Without him players such as Viera,Anelka, Henry, Adebayor, fabricas and Cole would've been unknown.

Gunners all all day everyday

[nomadicwarlord]

They call him the "Professor"...

[Abdi_westldn]

Title wise Wenger can't even be compared to the likes of Sir Alex or even Chelsea's own Ancellotti.

[Jamac_Yare]

Xaji Wenger waa one of the best laakin sometimes i dnt agree with his decisons

[1_londoner]

Haters Haters Haters.

On another note...Oh, No! Another injury-time winner for United? Surely not!