Can we finally give Le Professeur the credit he deserves?

#ArseneKnows

He’s winded the financial storm and has come out with a group of players who would stand by him no matter what!

Be it showing off his impressive volleyball skills, posing with bikini clad women or slyly revealing transfer news on live TV, Arsene Wenger clearly looks like he’s enjoying himself amongst the high paced World Cup around him. He looks a man reborn, a man who has refound the vigour and the wit that seemed aloof at most times in the past (or maybe that’s just the magic of Brazil).

Arsene Wenger’s reign can be divided into 3 parts

Looking back, we can divide his spell at Arsenal into 3 parts, the first 500 games, which we can attribute to the spectacular opponent destroying-swift moving-pass-pass-pass-double winning and Invincible years. The first 10 years of his reign where everything he touched simply turned to gold. A side which frankly any Arsenal fan would love to watch again and again on a lovely Sunday afternoon as they travel over England and Europe stamping their class over whoever came their way. He had leaders in his team and performers, a side that performed so remarkably well together and conjured mouth-watering moments of magic.

Then came the second 500 games. A spell so extremely heartbreaking for any Gooner, we seek solace in animated GIFs of Tim Sherwood stripping off his Gilet or Harry Redknapp being assaulted by a football or a Panda. The second 500 or the slow transfers-heart stopping injuries-selling our poster boys-still keeping it pretty phase of Wenger’s career is one we and I’m sure he too is glad is over. You can blame a plethora of factors, David Dein leaving, the new stadium, slow commercial deals, or as any British tabloid/Piers Morgan would put it “an entirely weak squad led by an often stubborn Arsene Wenger”.

However, I’d like to argue that behind his labeled stubbornness was still at work a master strategist. A man who for the sake of the club he loves, held it together for 7-8 seasons knowing he’s the only one to help it weather the storm.

Ozil and Sanchez buys prove his hunger for success

The signing of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil is probably a testament to how much this man still wants to succeed and proof of the constraints that held him back. It heralds what is probably his last few seasons at the helm after signing that much prolonged contract extension. The burden of debts really fell on his shoulder and he had to often change policy to make sure he gets what’s best for the team. It’s a bitter pill to swallow when you consider sales of Cesc, RvP, Nasri even Song (or maybe not Song) but seems a weak argument when you realize that he has managed to now string together a side that plays for the club rather than themselves.

A passion, camaraderie and excitement from the lads that can’t be spelt out much better than the Per and Kos lifting the much awaited FA Cup trophy together that left Gooners with a grin larger than Per himself. Fourth place is by no means “as good as a trophy” just like having Diaby back is by no means “akin to a new signing”. But under the circumstances we have created a real team. A group that needed constant careful evaluation to weed out the troublemakers even though it meant making the hard choices.

There may have been transfer flops in the past, but they seem petty when you realize Fergie bought Bebe. With his recent buys, Arsene has not bought individual stars as much as team players. This is the freedom that having money from new deals and a fairly clean slate in stadium debt gives. The freedom to buy top quality that show their class when compared to a lazy Arshavin or a boasty Bendtner. Players with the likes of Giroud, Cazorla and Arteta who may not be stellar performers in the league of a Neymar or Ronaldo but put in their 100% day in, day out.

Wenger’s team is different

What Wenger has is a team that gets along. A team without the individual rivalries and player differences that haunts so many European sides. A team that loves the manager and get all the backing from the top boss himself. And this probably shows in Wenger’s own demeanor, nobody deserved the win vs. Hull more than him, and confidence that the faith he puts in his team really pays off.

This summer was always going to be a big one. Quality has to be added. Quality players with great range that will supplement the already growing talents of Ramsey, Chamberlain, Theo and Wilshere. The imminent arrivals of Ospina, Debuchy and even Sanchez can be the much needed catalyst to this Arsenal team, that buoyed by the events at Wembley are slowly gaining momentum and the confidence to be seen as real title favourites.

Although, we’re still a month away from the opening day, I can’t help but be submerged in a new sort of optimism, a feeling which I honestly lacked in previous years. A belief that we can again mix the beautiful brand of football with champagne popping, open bus parades and pyro fireworks at the end of each season.