Belated Happy Birthday Mr. Wenger: Now Let's Stop Arsene Around

Unfortunately I could not make it on to Bleacher Report yesterday so this article is a day late.

First off, I must wish Le Boss a happy 59th birthday. You don't look a day over 50 professor, I swear!!

Arsenal have had the benefit of Mr.Wenger's services now for over 12 years, ever since he was a 47-year-old Frenchman who arrived in Highbury to choruses of "Arsene Who?"

In that time the club has seen it all: the double-double, the Invincibles, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, sexy football, sensational teenagers, a top-class new stadium, dramatic nights at the San Siro...

Alas, the club has pretty much seen it all except one thing.

The Champions League trophy sitting in the trophy cabinet.

For some extremely strange reason I have this feeling that the Champions League may be Arsenal's this year.

Write me off as an idiot but I really do for a number of reasons:

1) The English sides seem to be on a different level to most other clubs in Europe and the four can beat anyone in their path.

2) Out of this four I think it is fair to say that Arsenal are the least feared among European clubs as a) they comprise a lot of youngsters b) the track record of Liverpool in Europe under Rafa Benitez is excellent and c) the strong sides that make up Chelsea and Manchester United, thus Arsenal can be somewhat of the surprise package.

3) Arsenal are set-up to play in a way that suits European football. There are very little Boltons to kick you off the field in the top class of European football.

4) It is the trophy Arsene Wenger wants more than anything in the world.

5) I just bloody well have got the feeling.

Arsenal have had an okay start to the EPL, not great but not bad either.

The Fulham defeat was a disaster, Hull are surprising everyone, and in all honesty a point away to a progressing Sunderland is not too bad a result. However, Chelsea just seem on a different level this season and are the current class of the Premier League, although we were saying the same about Arsenal this time last year!

Arsene Wenger too has had an okay start to the season. His youth team are flying in the Carling Cup, things are progressing nicely in the Champions League and the Gunners are still up there in the league (a win against West Ham and a Liverpool-Chelsea draw at the weekend would do nicely).

However, he has once again to put up with question marks over his youth policy and lack of investment in "ready-made" players. In my view, Le Boss will spend adequate money if he feels a player is right. It is up to Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City to fork out huge sums of cash for players (a lot of the time average players) if they so wish, but Wenger has rarely done that. It is his way.

During the game on Tuesday night there seemed to be a different Wenger on the sideline. He seemed more agitated than usual, more so than in recent away draw to Sunderland, which suggests to me he has his heart and team set on winning this European crown.

A 5-2 away win in Turkey and he only allowed himself a mere smile and clap when Ramsey scored the 5th in added time. He seems like a man on a mission.

Pardon the pun but there was no "Arsene" around on the sideline against Fenerbahce and I think that message got through to the players.

Maybe year number 13 will be Wenger's lucky year, and what a fitting tribute it would be to his father's recent passing.

Arsenal, Champions of Europe come May—why not?

Alphonse Wenger R.I.P: Let a man be judged not just by his own deeds, but by the deeds of his son.

"When I was young, my parents taught me that you work very very hard, and then you shut up." - Arsene Wenger