What Do Arsenal Fans Under 21 Think of Arsene Wenger?
Generation Wenger: Two decades of Arsenal supporters who have never known anything but life under the French manager.
As Arsene Wenger takes charge of his final Arsenal match on Sunday after nearly 22 years in charge, B/R set about speaking to those fans who are about to embark on a new stage of life without their footballing father.
It turns out he will be missed. He may not be setting new standards any more, but he taught thousands of fans about a philosophy of the game that they will never forget.
One fan thought the club was named after him. All knew the stories of how he turned the club back into one of Europe's elite.
From London's teenage season ticket holders to followers in Nigeria, the U.S. and Pakistan who have never been to a game, we have been speaking to the under-21 Arsenal fans to find out what they think of Arsene Wenger.
A Father Figure
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While most made no argument for Wenger being given any more time at the club, it is clear a close connection will forever bond Wenger and those fans who grew up watching his teams.
"I guess I've felt an emotional attachment towards him as he's the only Arsenal manager I've ever known," said Cameron Bolton, a 16-year-old supporter from Northern Ireland. "He is a dying breed of manager who genuinely cares for the club and not his personal career."
Austin Hardwicke, 21, from Cardiff, explained: "Wenger is my idol because of his values and the way he acts. You can see by the way the players reacted to his leaving that it means a lot to them too."
It's interesting to note that few of those fans B/R approached had any issue with Wenger's age. At 68, a disconnect in time and relevance could so easily exist, yet Arsenal fans aged 21 and younger do not seem to see it that way.
"I felt very attached to Arsene growing up," Aldo Zamudio from Barcelona explained. "He's the reason I started following Arsenal and also the reason why I will always love and support Arsenal. I remember amazing matches like Barcelona in the UEFA Champions league or incredible goals like the one against Norwich City. It was Barcelona style—maybe even better."
Gene Oliver from Barnet said: "Growing up playing and learning football in the early 2000s, every team, Sunday League to professional, wanted to emulate his style. His style and way of football is what I grew up on. And it's more than just Arsenal, even more than just football."
Mehdi Syed from Pakistan added: "He's one of the few people I would actually like the meet in my life because of the man he is. A revolutionary, a mentor, a man of principles and someone who always gives his best."
Respect and Dedication
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An undeniable byproduct of Arsenal's demise in more recent years, though, is that fans such as Robbie Robjant, a 15-year-old Gooner, have no clear memory of Arsenal winning the league.
He's still managed to leave his mark on them.
"During my first season as a season ticket holder at the Emirates Stadium, I was selected to be a mascot for the Champions League qualifier against Turkish side Fenerbahce," Robbie explains. "Wenger held out his hand to give myself and all the other mascots a high-five, and an enormous sense of pride rushed through me. His hand was so cold, it felt like he had frostbite, but I realised that I'd just high-fived a living legend. It will remain a vivid memory.
"I actually attended Wenger's final home game against Burnley, and when he delivered his speech, I felt a lot of pity for him because he failed to end his career with silverware. I could tell that he also felt very emotional, just as we did."
Others spoke of being similarly affected by Wenger.
"I was tearing up when I woke to the news he's leaving", admitted Ali Rizwan, a 16-year-old fan from Ancaster, Canada. "By the time I became a hardcore fan, the glory days were gone, but the passion Wenger had for Arsenal was the same as mine—so that connection was there. He is Arsenal, and I am an Arsenal fan, so he has got a lot of love on my part."
It's that unwavering dedication to Arsenal that has set Wenger apart from almost every other manager or head coach in the game. He may have overstayed his welcome in the eyes of many, but his love for the club has earned him the respect of young adults who have been building a similar passion.
"I grew up watching his era of dominance, and I saw his era of decline," said Andrew Hawley from Washington D.C. "I saw Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and top players come and go, but he always remained. His loyalty and love for the club is truly beautiful."
Londoner Brad Wilson added: "I used to think the club was named after him. I heard all these stories about the Invincibles, and it just seemed logical to me that this guy had been around so long that they called the team Arsenal after him. In fairness, I was very young at the time!"
Time to Go
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For all the love and romance around Wenger, there is also the reality that Arsenal have been losing their place among the Premier League's elite.
While millennials may have plenty of respect for the boss, they also have a desire to see their team competing at the highest level. The disappointment of the past two seasons has been the final straw for most.
"I was 'Wenger Out' but not until I started to see how the 2016-17 season was panning out," 19-year-old Mahith Gamage explained. "It was quite clear to see that we were falling behind the pack as a club, and the 10-2 demolition by Bayern Munich was essentially the last straw. That was when I fully realised Wenger was not up to standard anymore.
"I think Wenger was too out of touch with the modern game in the past few seasons. With the success of Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and other younger managers, the age gap was clearly widening between Wenger and his counterparts. The right time for him to go was perhaps around the time that Sir Alex Ferguson also walked."
Andrew, a 19-year-old fan from Washington, D.C., argued: "I don't believe he was too old because you can always teach an old dog new tricks. Unfortunately, this old dog didn't want to learn new tricks. He stuck to what he believed in, which is admirable—but that's also why we haven't won the Premier League since 2004."
Who Leads the Next Era?
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Almost every young fan who spoke about Wenger was in agreement over who should replace him: Max Allegri.
From Stephen Ikuolmola in Nigeria to Harry De'Giovanni in London, there is a desire for the Juventus manager to get the nod to become Wenger's successor.
"This decision is a very big one, and I hope the board get it spot on," Ikuomola said. "But I think appointing Allegri would be a very good decision."
As De'Giovanni explained: "He has a track record in Italy, along with success in European football. I think at this stage it would be foolish not to bring in an experienced manager, as there is a massive rebuild that needs to be undertaken."
Ben Levine, 19, agreed: "Some felt that Wenger's style of play had not evolved within the past decade, but his possession-based style of play is one that will never go out of fashion. There may need to be some adjustments made to better fit the modern era that a new manager may incorporate.
"Allegri is the smartest and most logical choice. He is very experienced and has the potential to bring world-class players to Arsenal—more so than the other options."
Cameron, the 16-year-old from Northern Ireland, has a similar view: "I would go with Allegri, as he will win his fourth Scudetto with Juventus this year. He's taken them to two Champions League finals and would build a good defence at Arsenal."
It's time for a new era at the Emirates Stadium, and while Wenger's defence may have been a bit shaky over the past few years, he leaves Arsenal with the respect and love of a generation that missed his greatest days.
