The
Frenchman is the longest-serving boss in the Premier League following
Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement from his Manchester United duties and
even a nine-year silverware drought cannot change the legacy of a man
who made history in north London and altered the face of English
football.
His
sides have played arguably the most attractive football England has
seen, and he forced his way into the record books by leading the Gunners
to an unbeaten top-flight campaign in 2003-04.
A
virtual unknown in the Premier League when he succeeded Bruce Rioch in
1996, it would not take him long to make his mark and by the end of the
1997-98 season he had won the title and FA Cup.
The feat was repeated four years later and two more FA Cups came his way in the following three years.
Arguably
his finest hour – the unbeaten campaign which earned his men the
‘Invincibles’ tag – could have been eclipsed in 2006 when Arsenal took
on Barcelona in the European Cup final, but they fell to a 2-1 defeat
despite taking the lead with 10 men, after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann’s
dismissal.
Wenger has not had the pleasure of lifting a trophy since the penalty shoot-out triumph over United in the 2005 FA Cup final.
His
volatile relationship with Ferguson thawed towards the end of the
Scot’s Old Trafford tenure, although the cynics say that was mainly due
to the Gunners’ inability to challenge United for major honours.
As
the wilderness years have gone by Wenger has increasingly split opinion
among his club’s supporters, but a significant improvement this term
has put Arsenal in a position to lift the FA Cup once again and
challenge for the title – although that could hinge on Saturday’s
result.
How
fitting it would be if the race for top spot was blown wide open by the
visitors at Stamford Bridge on the manager’s big day, and at the
expense of his nemesis in the opposition dug-out, Jose Mourinho.
Showing posts with label Alex fergurson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alex fergurson. Show all posts
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