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Arsenal’s increase to an “inhuman” size is a reason the club “slipped away” from Arsene Wenger towards the end of his reign.
The legendary manager left the club in 2018 after 22 years in charge.
The Frenchman who arrived in England in 1996 and led the Gunners to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.
In an interview with So Foot (via The Sun), Wenger explained the extent to which the size of Arsenal had increased in the 12-years he served as manager.
He said: “These days, the size of the clubs sometimes stops them from keeping the culture of performance.
“When I arrived at Arsenal, we were 80 people.
Arsene Wenger – the man behind the famous ‘Invincibles’ team
“When I left, there were 750, and when there’s 750 people in one organisation, each one thinks about saving themselves rather than improving.
“I think there’s a degree of reflection for me: how do you keep that desire to perform? Up to about 150 people, I think you can stay human.
“You know the name of the wife, of the kid of such and such
“My regret at Arsenal is to have gone from human size to inhuman, with a larger administrative weight. Everything accelerated.
Wenger: The size of Arsenal became “inhuman”
“Ten years ago, you’d see a guy who was good, you’d get him in, give him a tracksuit and he’d be a part of the team.
“That’s long gone. Now, if you want a new physio, you go through 300 applications. That’s how, at Arsenal, bit by bit, I felt the club slip away from me.”
Wenger endured an acrimonious period towards the end of his tenure in north London. Banners and protests were rife as Arsenal failed to reach the heights of Wenger’s first decade in charge.
The ex-boss recently accepted a role as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.
