The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has managed more matches at Arsenal than the combined total of games his Premier League rivals managed at their current clubs. Another feather in the already brimming cap of Wenger!
The departure (or more appropriately ‘sacked’) Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson brought Wenger this new acclaim. The match day experience of Wenger alone now dwarfs every single other top flight manager – based on their current spells. All the other managers combined tally is 998 games.
Wenger has been in charge of Arsenal for six times as long as the second-longest serving manager in the top flight; who happens to be Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers managed the Merseyside club in 155 matches over 3 years.
The venerable and much acclaimed Frenchman will be getting into his 20th season at the club. The 65 year old gaffer has managed the Gunners in 1,066 matches. During this time, his win ratio is a very healthy 57.5 per cent.
Owners these days go merely by the trophies won by their clubs. This should explain the short-term approach by most of them and the ‘hire and fire’ policy. In such an environment, it is difficult not to acknowledge the success of Wenger.
After the retirement of his old nemesis Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger became the elder statesman of the Premier League. His critics may have a different story to tell about the drought of trophies but everyone will agree that Wenger had a positive influence at the club.
The Gunners boss is giving no suggestions that he is ready to call it a day. On the contrary, Wenger is ready to start to push the club and make them genuine challengers for the best trohies again. And if anyone has doubts, the big name signings such as Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Petr Cech should be enough to dispel them.
Wenger has already turned the club into one of the most successful in the country. He won three Premier League titles and a record equaling six FA cups. He still harbours the dream of taking Arsenal all the way in the Champions League. And he also wants to get Arsenal back to title challenging ways in the Premier League. He already started his transfer business with the clever purchase of Cech from Chelsea.
So, how long do you think Wenger can manage the show at Arsenal? Could he surpass Sir Alex one day?
Sridhar