The Frenchman brings an end to a career during which he oversaw the club’s most successful era
Arsene Wenger will step down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season. This is despite the fact that the 68-year-old gaffer still has another year left on his contract.
He said in this morning's statement:
“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club. I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.”
There is now an opportunity for a fresh start for a team and a club who have experienced stagnation over recent seasons.
However, there ought to be a sense of gratitude towards a man who has given Arsenal and English football so much.
One remembers with nostalgia the majesty of his Arsenal teams around the turn of the century, competing for the game’s biggest prizes with a truly great Manchester United side. Arsenal won the Premier League title in 1998, 2002 and 2004. They went an entire Premier League season unbeaten in 2003-04.
Wenger's Arsenal's era of near-invincibility is even surpassed by the memories of the way they played. With the contrasting qualities of Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and others, they had a rare combination of silk and steel. They could win ugly when they needed to, but when they were in full flow, they were irresistible.
