Respecting Priorities: Why Arsene Wenger Should Be Arsenal's First Concern

Faded grey hair, probably from the immense pressure that comes with the job, stern dark eyes, that nowadays lack emotion--one has to wonder if this calculating man has ever shown emotion--often wearing a black suit, a pearl-white dress shirt, a red tie embodying the primary color of the club he has taken to the top and back, and a wrist watch on his left hand, which almost embodies Arsene Wenger himself.

Since his ingress in 1996, Arsene Wenger has flipped not only Arsenal upside down, but the Premier League as whole. He took 'boring, boring Arsenal' to, at times, the most entertaining team in the world. He introduced order to a chaotic dressing room. He taught the importance of diet and proper training. Despite being criticized, Wenger's methods have been widely accepted by almost all football clubs. 

Apart from winning three league titles, four FA Cups, four Community Shields, FA Premier League Manager of the Year three times, and a 2006 induction into the English Football Hall of Fame (plus an ongoing list of personal honors), Wenger has made Arsenal one of the most financially sound clubs in the world.

He was instrumental in taking Arsenal from the 30,000-seat Highbury to the 60,000-seat state-of-the-art Emirates stadium.

He has become notorious for spotting unseen talent, buying them for little to nothing, turning potential into reality, and selling them off at outrageous prices. 

A less glorified talent is Wenger's ability to know when to release a player. It is almost like Wenger creates such an environment for success that when a player leaves he cannot succeed without Wenger and Arsenal.  Very few, if any, players have left Arsenal to enjoy more lustrous, for-filling careers.

Now with Arsenal boasting a trophy-less trophy cabinet, big stars being lured away by big money moves, Arsenal now have to decide who to let go and who to hold on to. Fabregas, hands-down the most influential player since Henry's last season at Highbury, is hearing the cries from Barcelona louder and louder each day and pundits wonder how long his Catalan heart can hold back. 

Gallas, who has turned his career around since losing the captaincy just over a year ago, has become a key member of Arsenal's back line and formed a rock solid partnership with Vermalenn, but has stalled on his new contract. 

Even Eboue, who at one point was substituted on last season, played so poorly he was booed by his own fans, and substituted off minutes later, has become a fairly consistent performer for Arsenal this season yet could be leaving for Roma in the summer.

With so many question marks looming and the possibility of another season that almost was, Arsenal have to ask, “Who is most important to Arsenal?” 

Arsene Wenger.

He has stalled on his contracts talks after being humiliated by Lionel Messi. With Real Madrid calling again, some wonder how much longer he will stay and are growing frustrated with a blue ribbon-less Arsenal. 

Making sure Wenger is comfortable and happy at Arsenal should be Arsenal's biggest concern.

Although he has stated his commitment, making sure he sticks to that is far more important that holding onto any one player.

As I stated earlier, Wenger has a knack for spotting unknown players and turning them into superstars (Nicholas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Patrick Veiria, Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, and the list goes on and on). All these players have come and gone, but for every big player that has left Arsenal, another one has come in and made his name.

When others called on Wenger to sign a holding midfielder, he appointed Song to the job, he flourished in the role. When Henry left, Adebayor scored 30 goals. When Toure ended his reign at Arsenal, Vermaelen--who wouldn’t be able to handle the Premier League--became the best signing in the League.

Though Wenger has had five, long, disappointing, trophy-less years, he has made Arsenal what it is today. He has instilled belief in these young players who go from strength to strength. To lose Wenger would end Arsenal and everything he has built. 

In Wenger we trust. Arsenal need Arsene, indeed, more than Arsene needs Arsenal.