At the start of the season 99.9 percent of the football analysts predicted Arsenal falling out of the top four for the first time since Arsene Wenger took over at Arsenal. Writers also predicted they would not make it through to the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Having lost Thierry Henry, Arsenal's most influential player in recent history , and spending only a fraction of what most clubs spent in the transfer market on an unknown Croatian striker and a French right back with a mopey hair style.
The jury was out before a ball was even kicked in the league.
Wenger was guilty of putting too much belief and pressure on his young squad that lacked depth. He was sentenced to a preseason of ridicule and buffoonery.
Wenger and his boys started the league as everyone expected, scraping for a win against Fulham at home and draw to Blackburn away. Arsenal had UEFA cup written all over them.
Seven months later...Arsenal have lost only one game in the Prem and are joint top of the league with the predicted winners, Arsenal are into the quarter finals of the champions league while becoming the first English Club to beat Ac Milan at the San Siro. Writers now think 13 times before canceling Arsenal out of any competition.
Steve Coppell may have won this prize last season for exceeding expectations. If only the same would be done this season, it's obvious who would win the prize. but as we all know, the English don't like Wenger very much. Who can blame them, after all he is the reason England haven't won a major trophy for the past 42 years.
Well they need any reason, don't they?
1. He didn't spend as much as the Big Four, or even Spurs or Man City
2. Despite having so many players out throughout the season with a squad already said to be lacking depth, he still managed to steer them all the way to the top of the table.
3. He proved everyone wrong and exceeded everyone's expectations.
If anyone deserves Manager of the season, it's surely the Professor, Le Boss, Arsene Wenger. However, only time will tell if all his hard work pays off.
One things for sure though: In a few seasons, with the squad Arsenal has now, the future looks very bright.
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6 months ago
Its far too early to be handing out Manager of the year in my opinion. What if Arsenal get beat by Liverpool in the CL, then end up finishing 3rd in the Prem, would that have been such a great season? Another with no trophy?
I have great respect for Arsene Wenger the manager (if not Arsene Wenger the man) and his achievements are unparallelled in the way he goes about things, but on the season so far, my manager of the year would be David Moyes as Everton have done brilliantly in the league, semi finals in a cup for the first time in 13 years, and further than they have ever managed in the UEFA Cup. Thats all it is though, the season so far, if Everton finish the season badly and end up 8th, then it won't look quite so good.
6 months ago
I agree with Simon but yes Arsene has done a fantastic job this season. He is however not the only person to do well with kids. Look at Sir Alex, league championships at United with arguably 3 different generations.
But, yes no one can argue with Wengers credentials.
6 months ago
There's no doubt it's far too early in the season to handing out the Manager of the Year aweard. There's still plenty of more twists and turns to come. Who knows what will happen to Wenger's side in the next couple of weeks.
6 months ago
I'm a United supporter (One that is not bias) and i agree to an extent on some of your points
As much as Arsene is a hated figure, i have respect for any man who steps to the United challenge and (often over the years) took us down... it's going to be a fun stretch run, however i think if Chelsea slip their noses in, Avram might deserve Manager of the Year over SAF and Arse
6 months ago
Arsene has done really well in exceeding all expectations wit his young squad, so its not far fetched to call him best manager this season, though i believe even managers like Moyes, southgate, martin o'neill, erickson, harry redknapp, and mcleish have really done well this season.
6 months ago
Arsene Wenger is a top quality manager..but not unanimously EPL'S best..
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