Date: 30th August 2015 at 7:00pm
Written by:

To some, the topic of Arsene Wenger and his legacy is polarizing one, with critics and advocates often clashing. The boss has come under fire in recent seasons with Arsenal coming agonizingly close on several occasions since the last time Arsenal won the league in 2004.

Most of his opponents would be quick to point out that that was 11 years ago, but we at Arsenal-Mania would prefer to celebrate his accomplishments.

During a time when the boss is getting a lot of stick and undue scrutiny from some directions of the fan base, we thought it would be worth the effort to remind them why Wenger just might be the best Premier League manager ever.

He is one of just six managers to have won the Premier League since its inception 1992, and is second behind only Sir Alex Ferguson for total number of titles won with three.

The former United manager of course collected a massive 13 and is the most successful manager on the trophy front, but our boss just may be the better of the two (and thus the best ever) for his overall impact on the club.

And of course for his successful navigation of the club through financial hardship, which for me separates him from any other manager in history. I’m not sure anyone could have coped with significantly limited funds and still manage to keep a team competitive for 18 successive seasons.

That for me is the reason Wenger is the greatest ever.

It is worth mentioning also that Wenger entered the picture from a vastly different environment in Japan, and had to adapt to the league. His ideas and tactics took the league by storm and no other foreign coach has ever come close to matching that kind of impact.

It lead to a vastly successful first eight seasons in which all of his league titles were won and half of his FA Cup triumphs. The trend most likely would have continued if it weren’t for the aforementioned financial hardships.

When Arsenal started construction of the Emirates in 2006, it began a long rebuilding and recouping process in which Wenger had to resort to selling star players for profit. He had to cope with significantly weakened squads every season and still remained competitive, keeping Arsenal in the Champions League places for 18 consecutive seasons (going on 19). An astonishing feat that is, and enough to crown him the town for me.

Last but not least however, is the construction of the greatest Premier League team ever, “the Invincibles.” If there was anyone still unsure, this last bit will surely push them over the edge. The 2003-2004 Arsenal Premier League winning side was the only team in Premier League history to go unbeaten after 38 games.

That is simply not possible without top leadership, and is reason enough in itself to credit the boss with top honour.

 

5 responses to “Is Arsene Wenger the best Premier League manager ever?”

  1. chris says:

    You are having a laugh aren’t you ???

    In the last 6 – 7 years he has had wrong : –

    > His all out beautiful attacking game – which only changed 8 or 9 months ago when senior players told him it had to change.

    > His lack of real dmf – till he stumbled on Coq. … years too late.

    > His general inability to do tactics.

    > The fitness and preparation regime which he refused to change (despite his medics’ pleas) till it was described by the incoming Bundesliga expert as ‘Prehistoric.’

  2. Oguntuase Amos says:

    Some idiots who like to criticize for the sake of it will still disagree. We already see how big spenders are falling. The drama has just began.

  3. Stonroy says:

    You did this to stir things up didn’t you? Fergie is the best manager of all times. There’s only one Stat that counts and that is trophies, not the 4th place kind.

  4. The boy shows promise says:

    Yes, he is..FACT!!!

  5. austinpaul says:

    Nadji, u got it! I submit absolutely to ur Post in every material particular; I hve posted similar summary sumwhere recently am glad u hve given more verve to my conclusions; to anybody who undastands footballing nd clubbing Weger is d best, most of his collegues who trive on purchase of high caliber players to win. Trophies wuldnt hve survived those years of tribulatons nd still remain competitive;I believe dey wuld long hve bin relegated nd forgotten in d championship.unfortunately many *rsenal fans are nt appreciatiive of Wenger’s achievements focusing only on winning titles wich many believe is d only reason a club exists;wat AW has doone nd still doing painstakingly is to build a club dat can nd neva wuld go down on its its belly in future; perhaps wen AW has concluded his building process nd existed d Club, those Arsene haters will begin to applaud him;am certain of dis bcos in every human organization, haters, conspirators, disgruntled elements nd such cohorts abound in gud measures particularly wen d object of their hate has superior acumen;gud enough AW is focused nd can’t be boothered wit their antics!Arsenal fans must learn to hve faith nd believe absolutely In wat belongs to dem like I posted here recently!we nid to encourage AW nd stand by him unda all circumstances!