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20 February 2013

Arsene Who? End of a Era

It all started so well....


On the 30th September 1996, Arsenal fans had learnt that an unknown Frenchman had taken charge of the club, after the dismissal of Bruce Rioch. Arsene Wenger was relatively unknown in England and was greeted by the headline 'Arsene Who', when he joined Arsenal. His arrival was an immediate revolution to the club as he signed future legend and captain Patrick Viera, but Wenger suggested changing Pat Rice's position, this never materialized, thank goodness!

Wenger's second season was a stunning triumph as he won the league and cup double. Wenger was to become known as a shrude tactician and artist of transfers with the signings of Overmars, Petit and Anelka the forefront of his success in the 97/98 season. Whilst a established wall of Adams, Bould, Winterburn and Dixon from George Graham's era along with 'catalyst' Dennis Bergkamp, meant Wenger had world class players in the armory. 

Wenger was to win another double in the 2001/02 season thanks to more masterful signings in future icons Campbell, Ljungberg, Pires and record goal scorer Thierry Henry. Furthermore, after losing the 2000 UEFA Cup final on penalties, winning the title at bitter rivals Manchester United's backgarden was a sweet moment for all connected to Arsenal as Sylvain Wiltord clinched the league at Old Trafford.

The season of 2003/04 though was to be the birth of possibly the greatest ever XI in which Arsenal were to become the first team for 115yrs to go a season undefeated, unbowed and unbeaten. The season defining moment came when at Old Trafford, at 0-0, Ruud Van Nistelrooy crashed a penalty against the crossbar, sparking scenes of pure emotion from Arsenal players. As this was at the starting part of the season, it was to set Arsenal on to greatness, as Arsenal continued to set a record of 49 games unbeaten. Even though this was to be the only trophy of the season, going a Premier League season unbeaten is virtually impossible and will be a very long time till it's done again. This team will go down in Arsenal history as their greatest ever XI:

                                                                           J.Lehmann

Lauren                                            S.Campbell                 K.Toure                                 A.Cole

F.Ljunberg                                     P.Viera                        G.Silva                                 R.Pires

                                                         T.Henry                    D.Bergkamp

Not forgetting other contributors in Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and Edu, this was to be followed by FA Cup triumph in 2005 against Manchester United on penalties, Arsenal's last trophy...............


9yrs later and no more trophies.....

That Invincibles team of 2004 is now long gone and is nearing 10yrs after Arsenal went a season unbeaten, watching Arsenal in recent weeks never mind months, a lot has changed at Arsenal except one ever present figure, Arsene Wenger! Year after year has gone by with dissapointment after meltdown after high-profile departure, with the whole first team squad of the 2003/04 season gone from the current Arsenal squad, it shows how the previously great gunners have declined, namingly Wenger himself.

Never before has Arsene Wenger let loose at the media despite the tough and stressful questions and reports over the years, he's been cool, calm and collected yet before the season saving game against Bayern Munich in the Champions League he had lost dignity and all forms of calmness in this press conference


Any true Arsenal fan out there has season review DVD's of past season's, I've been watching some as recent of 2009/10, with Nasri, Fabregas, Vermaelan and Arshavin the stars of our campaign. Arsenal were top of the league after August?!? We were going toe to toe with Barcelona and had good youngsters coming through. Untill we typically collapsed in April and didn't win anything finsihing 3rd and losing 4-1 to Barca at the Nou Camp. I'm afraid that people are starting to feel sorry Wenger as he's losing any reputation he built up with departures like Van Persie's to our old rivals Man.Utd, which has looked to put them on course to a staggering treble. Even though we have players like Wilshere, Sagna and Walcott with good signings in Cazorla, Podolski and Monreal, they're not at the class of Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy even Adebayor. Yet our so called 'replacement' for Van Persie, Olivier Giroud, was on the bench for our biggest game of the season, our last chance for a trophy. Wenger resting our big players for the Blackburn game prove costly as that was our best chance of a trophy and don't start about Bradford! 

He's a hero, idol and legend in Arsenal history but everything has to end and unfortunately Arsene Wenger's era is coming to a undignified, ungracious halt.
















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