Know your Managers: Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger has been managing Arsenal since 1996. Before making it big in the Premier League, he had previously managed the French clubs Nancy-Lorraine and Monaco. With Monaco, he had won a Ligue 1 title and a Coupe de France title. Despite the titles, he was able to deliver results in the later stages of his tenure with Monaco and thus he was sacked in 1994. He then managed the Japanese club Nagoya Grampus with considerable success before being appointed by Arsenal in 1996.

Early success followed him in the Premier League where he won a domestic double(Premier League and FA Cup) in the 1997-1998 season itself. A similar domestic double in the 2001-2002 season followed by the incredible 2003-2004 season established Arsene Wenger as one of the best managers of the world. In the 2003-2004 season, Arsenal was undefeated throughout the 38 league games and hence the team was aptly named ‘the invincibles’. Since the 2003-2004 season, success has eluded Arsene Wenger and Arsenal as they have only won 3 FA Cups after that heck of a season.

Even in the previous season, Arsenal came agonisingly close to winning the title but only to squander their chances in the dying stages of the league despite a brilliant start to their campaign. In the past few seasons, they have lacked the services of a quality striker who could pounce upon the chances created by the quality midfielders who are at his disposal.

Arsene Wenger contract will be expiring after this upcoming season. The only way he could get his contract renewed is to deliver the premier league trophy with Arsenal. Meanwhile, repeated failures in the Champions League do not add to his cause and his job will surely be under scrutiny as anything less than a major trophy will not suffice. And if he is to succeed with Arsenal this season then he must make it sure to add a quality striker in Arsenal’s arsenal.