Arsenal FC: Where Did It All Go Wrong for Arsene Wenger?
Arsene Wenger became manager of Arsenal Football Club in September 1996, after earning a reputation for himself with successful spells in France with Monaco and in Japan with Grampus Eight.
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In the 2004-2005 season Arsenal finished second in the Premier League. Arsenal has also won the FA Cup four times under Wenger.
However, since that successful period, Arsenal fans have endured a period without success. The team has now gone six years without winning a trophy and failed to finish above third in the Premier League in this period. The one saving grace, though, is the fact that Arsenal have continued to qualify for the Champions League.
This summer, though, Arsenal lost a number of key players and their place in the top four appears to be under threat by big-spending Liverpool, and maybe Tottenham. The squad was strengthened on transfer deadline day, but many people consider the signings to be panic buys after an 8-2 defeat against Manchester United.
Arsenal gave a nervy performance against Swansea and managed to squeeze a 1-0 win. But this weekend, the problems were clear to see as the team lost 4-3 to Blackburn. In situations like this, it's natural for fans to blame the manager, but it will be wrong to think that Arsenal's problems begin and end at Arsene Wenger’s door.
It would also be wrong to think of Arsenal's as a selling club. Every player at every club has a price that would be accepted. When Manchester United sold Ronaldo, that price was £80 million. Tottenham may argue that a club can refuse any offer that comes in for their best player.
However, it remains to be seen if their decision to hold on to Luka Modric will prove to be correct. The reality is clubs seldom benefit from holding on to an unhappy player.
Arsenal's move to the Emirates was not a decision made by Arsene Wenger and the reality is brand-new stadiums costs a significant chunk of change. Therefore, Arsenal had to restrict their transfer budget in order to afford the move.
In the long-term future, it is a move that is likely to be hugely beneficial to Arsenal. However, in the present, the team needs to be rebuilt; this sort of rebuilding process doesn't happen overnight. But Arsene Wenger is a good manager to do that job.
Wenger may have a patchy record, when spending a lot of money. But he has significant success in buying players very cheaply, developing them and turning them into stars.
Let's remember that Arsenal is an example of a well-run football club with a good manager. It will also be interesting to see how Arsenal does when the Financial Fair Play regulations come into full force.
Premier League dominance is not something that is easy to achieve and in recent history, only Manchester United has managed it. Arsenal is going through a period at the moment, but in a few years, Arsenal could be a major force again. However, fans are unlikely to have the patience to wait that long.
It is difficult to pinpoint what has gone wrong for Arsene Wenger, but if he is given the time to rebuild this squad, then he can come good again. The signings that were made on transfer deadline day were not Wenger’s usual signings, and it remains to be seen if this business will actually benefit Arsenal in the future.
