Happy birthday Arsene Wenger – A fan’s tribute

Today is the birthday of very special person. There are some people who influence you overwhelmingly even if you havent met them in person. They completely change the way you view things..like say,football.

Some of them stand the test of time and the constant barrage of criticism which incessantly rains on them, coming out as victors. In doing so, they dynamically alter the very profession in which they work. Amongst these legendary people is a classy Frenchman by the name of Arsene Charles Wenger, whose birthday falls on this day.

So deeply rooted is he at Arsenal, that you simply cannot think of Arsenal without him…or vice versa. Amusingly, in my early days of being a Gooner I thought Arsenal had derived its name from Arsene!!

His impact for Arsenal and world football is too great to be expressed in mere words but I will try. Thrust into the managerial limelight in a 1996 to a typically apprehensive press saying “Arsene Who?”

Wenger must be looking at his career and life with a smug satisfaction as his 65th birthday approaches. His biggest achievement I think is not leading Arsenal to a glorious Invincibles campaign , but in revolutionising the way Arsenal play… forever creating a legacy which might not be bettered!

The transition from ’1-0 to The Arsenal’ to ‘Beautiful Arsenal’ was tough, but didnt he pull it off spectacularly. Perhaps his biggest contribution to world football is the way he took looked after a player’s health, diet and overall fitness using technology as a major analytical tool.

“When aesthetic football is wedded with a winning mentality you get deserving champions.”

This is what Wenger did to Arsenal. Although the UEFA Champions League trophy represents the one that got away from him (he went agonisingly close in 2006 losing to Barca in the final), his record in UCL and general club football is great.

The recent years have been a period of heartbreaks, frustration, betrayal and importantly for the fans trophyless for him and his Gunners. Most blamed his inability to get major transfers, some blamed the financial structure of the club after the big move to Emirates (another hugely rewarding and shrewd business decision by Wenger and co.) while few (including me) put their fingers on the mental and physical strength of Arsene’s squads.

Obituaries have been written about his Arsenal career…but he and arsenal have come out ALL GUNS BLAZING this campaign standing in pole position in EPL and UCL table. Blending tremendous offensive power consisting of Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Giroud and co, with the defensive stability provided by Flamini Koscielny Per etc, Arsenal have delighted pundits and fans alike with their scintillating displays this season. Maybe the time is ripe for Wenger to have the last laugh at his critics and take the ’8 year trophyless’ monkey off his back.

He will always remain one of my inspirations in football as well as life and will have my utmost respect no matter what happens. I end my tribute with one of his superb quotes.

“Football is an art, like dancing is an art – but only when it’s well done does it become an art.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY”LE PROF”ARSENE WENGERMay you serve Arsenal till your last breath #COYG