Wenger’s final Arsenal pre-match talk surprisingly upbeat

Well it may be true that Arsene Wenger would not be in such a good mood after his Arsenal team lost away to Leicester City this week if the result had any impact on the season in general. If it had cost us a place then I think the Frenchman would still have been seething about what he saw as injustice from the referee and his crucial calls in favour of the Foxes.

As it is, though, Wenger was able to appreciate the fighting display of his players which really deserved at least a point from the game. He is also managing to be positive and upbeat about his time at Arsenal, and what is to come after he is gone, despite clearly feeling that he could have carried on.

Wenger declared, “The players’ attitude was great last night. They were fantastic. There is a special bond in this team.

“There is something waiting to come out that is special. Hopefully that will come out next season.”

Unlike most Gooners, Le Prof declared that the long years without a major trophy after the club left Highbury for the new Emirates Stadium was a period that he was very happy with, as reported by Sky Sports.

He said, “From 2006-2015 was certainly a period where i needed to be the strongest and did the best job.

“To work with restricted recourse and keep the club in a position to pay our debts back.

“I think I did my best job during this period, not the most glamorous but the most difficult.”

Wenger has never done things like most managers to be fair, and sometimes that has been amazing, like the unbeaten Invincible season of 2004-04, but it was the first title at Arsenal that he remembers most fondly. But this was not just a chance to look back, as the boss spoke about the need to start the new era this weekend by getting something from Huddersfield away.

He said, “I will try an do my job until the last minute I work here, then I think about the future.

“I will say to the players the best way to prepare the future is win the next game and go into a positive mind into next season.”

Always thinking of the future and still showing great love and loyalty to our club is just what we have come to expect from the man, but while in recent years he has looked more unhappy, the imminent end of his reign seems to have buoyed his spirits.

So along with talking about his pride at the time he benn Arsenal manager, Wenger offered some good advice to his replacement.

He said, “Respect the values of the club. I would like him to bring his own ideas. It’s a chance for the players to see something different.

“But on the other hand I would say respect what has been built here.

“I can leave a club where I can be proud of what’s behind me. There’s a fantastic structure and conditions for the next manager.

“I think I’ve been a little part of this club’s history and I’m proud of that.”

Merci Arsene and Au revoir professeur.

Bob.