Arsene Wenger - Rebuilding a Football Dynasty
Order Your Copy	...by Eddy Pratt

Arsene Wenger. It came from nowhere, but a name that had a familiar ring about it. Glen Hoddle and Mark Hateley had talked about him in glowing terms when he was at Monaco. Just prior to his arrival at Highbury Wenger had been touted around as a possible for the technical director's job with the FA. But, hot on the heels of the shock dismissal of Bruce Rioch, came an even bigger after-shock (and subsequently the worst kept secret in football history). Arsene Wenger was to be the next Arsenal manager.

Having graced sides like Mulhouse, Mutzig, Vauban and Strasbourg during his playing career, Wenger had no charismatic playing achievements to under-pin his managerial career. But fortunately the attributes required to play football at the highest level often go into reverse when it comes to management. Great players become crap managers. Exotic players become miserly, defence-obsessed coaches. And, happily for Arsene Wenger, so-so players can become great managers and coaches.

At Monaco he managed to win the French league and never once was the club out of the top three in his seven year reign as chief coach. He won the French Cup in 1991 (the next season they reached the final of the Cup Winners Cup) and took the club into the European Cup in 1988-89. His year in Japan with Grampus Eight, prior to his arrival at Highbury, was hardly a failure. He took them from third from the bottom to second place and a Japanese Cup win.

Although his arrival at Highbury was delayed until October last year, his influence was felt immediately by the capture of one Patrick Vieira from AC Milan for £3.5 million. As soon as leggy and hugely impressive Vieira was introduced against Sheffield Wednesday in September, you could sense the supporters were eager for more of what Monsieur Wenger had in store for them. (Having been force-fed the pedestrian mid-field diet of Hillier, Morrow, Jensen, Selley & Co for the last four years who could blame them?).

On the pitch Wenger made as good as start as we could have hoped. Things did only get better. By the time we had beaten Newcastle away at the end of November we were top of the Premiership. In the end, his lack of alternatives in the almost totally inherited and ageing squad caught up with him. We missed out on second place in the Champions League by a whisker. But, significantly, there were more than a few glimpses of what the future might bring in terms of footballing style. Wisely Wenger didn't tinker too much tactically in his first season, he merely encouraged people to play and pass more.

Arguably his greatest influence in his first season was felt off the pitch. The training facilities at London Colney were, to his sophisticated eyes, somewhat primitive. He has laid down a blue print for a proper training complex, with over-night accommodation for youth and trial players. (I understand that planning permission has just been granted). The medical facilities have been up-graded and, rumour has it, Gary Lewin has been told whatever he wants in equipment he gets. Players found themselves being asked to carry out different training routines conducted in a highly professional way. "It was uncanny," one of the coaching staff told me, "Arsene insists that everything is done to the second. He times everything. If you are doing a certain exercise for 30 seconds, it is 30 seconds not a second more or less." Apparently Wenger also took one look at the typical English player's diet and said 'NON'. No more, chips, fry-ups...and worse, booze was frowned on. Yet the players not only seem happy with the results, some of the older brigade (particularly Bould and Winterburn) seem to have discovered a new lease of life.

After years of total neglect under George Graham the club has now laid down a highly professional youth team set-up. Arguably the present youth management team of Liam Brady, Don Howe, Andy McDermid and Don Givens is stronger than half the Premiership clubs have to run their first team squads! Don Howe acknowledged it was the presence of Arsene Wenger that persuaded him to come back, "I've had long chats with Arsene Wenger and if people think he's interested only in buying players they are wrong. He's very keen on the youth development side of the game and he thinks Arsenal should be at the forefront. It was the chat with Arsene that finally convinced me that I should go back to Arsenal. I liked his ideas."

During his first season Wenger also carried out a much-needed cull of the deadwood in the Highbury squad. (I wouldn't argue with any of his choices for the axe - other than John Hartson - and him apart, most of the players he despatched are now strutting their stuff in the lower reaches of Nationwide Division One). During the summer he was busy with the cheque book. Joining the precocious Anelka came Upson, Boa Morte, Petit, Overmars, Manninger, Grimandi, Mendez and Wreh.

So far Wenger's spent about £18 million and recovered £10 million. He's bought young and for the future. Naturally many of his acquisitions are going to take time to settle and mature. But some of the impatient, instant success Arsenal-noveau supporters ain't happy with his signings. All have come in for criticism. Apart from the youth factor, the majority of Wenger's signings have been sourced from beyond these shores. Inevitably, there's a nagging feeling that, had the signings been English, they would have been given a little more time and understanding. Strange, almost bizarrely, if any one needs time and patience it is foreign players trying to adjust to a new country, culture, language and playing conditions. The treatment of Grimandi has been particularly odious. This guy could really turn into an outstandingly useful squad defender. His performances at right back against Chelsea and Southampton were outstanding. Quick and comfortable with the ball his inter-play with Parlour was a revelation. Yet the jingoistic boo-boys were on his back from virtually the first minute. Remember he only cost £1 million - for an English equivalent that might just about buy you the left leg of Justin Edinburgh.

Comparisons inevitably have been made with George Graham's reign at Highbury. People have short memories. Graham inherited a club with a squad bursting with prodigious youth promise - he had so much talent he could even afford to sell Andy Cole to Bristol City. (Not that George repaid the debt he owed his predecessors by nurturing and developing the youth policy during his tenure as manager. I notice the Leeds youth coach walked at the start of the season, accusing Graham of having no interest in the youth team. No change there then...). Wenger had no such luxuries, he inherited a squad that was either ageing or not up to it. He has had to buy in the younger layer. Whereas Graham was able to buy established players knowing that he had young talent waiting to come through, for Wenger, the youth cupboard was almost bare.

Not that Wenger has bought badly. At this stage Wreh looks a disaster but most of the rest look reasonable additions to the squad - given that they will need time to adjust to the Premiership. Anyway all managers make buying mistakes. I wouldn't think George would want to be reminded too often about Craig McKernon, Colin Pates, John Jensen, Jimmy Carter, Eddie McGoldrick, Glenn Helder and Pal Lydersen.

On the field the signs are equally promising. Wenger's passing game is now firmly in place. At times this season we've looked irresistible. As I write this piece (before the league match against Palace), we're sitting pretty in the Championship. Should we win our remaining matches we should be Champions (some hopes, but stranger things have happened...) and we're still in the FA Cup. We've made progress this year but we're still a club in transition. Realistically our lack of experience in the first team squad is going to mean we've no real chance against Man Utd this season. Until Wenger is able to field a first team with the majority of his own players we cannot really judge. This summer he'll have to continue the ins and outs. Expect some big names to say 'Au Revoir'. My money is on Wright and, the increasingly marginalised and indifferent, Tony Adams departing for pastures new. The flip-side of this is that, post-Bosman, all sorts of established internationals (particularly German) will become available for zilch.

Frustration and patience usual go in opposite directions for the football fan. The trouble is, with the situation Wenger inherited, we will definitely have to be patient. Yet, even so, the Championship is (through a rose tinted telescope) within touching distance. Spending money badly is easy. Just ask Tottenham. In the last few years only Newcastle has spent more but what has it achieved at White Hart Lane?

My criticisms of Wenger are already well-documented. We should have signed an established striker to challenge Wright. Secondly I believe his laissez-faire attitude towards discipline is going to cost us (arguably it already has). I'm also not happy with some of his post-match bleatings. It's not the Arsenal way. We take our defeats with dignity Arsene, we don't whinge - with a surname like yours you are going to be have to show far more diplomacy and restraint in the face of defeat. Of course Chelsea are divers. We didn't need Petrescu and Vialli (or Erland Johnson, last year against Leicester) to prove the point for us. But leave us, the supporters, to sort out that situation with our Chelsea 'friends' afterwards. Unfortunately, Wenger's outbursts this week have been the icing on the cake for our rival supporters.

Overall Wenger has been an inspired choice as manager. He has the powerful backing of David Dein at board level (something Bruce Rioch never enjoyed) and has set about re-building the club from top to bottom. Even if he fails (which I don't think he will) he will leave the club in a much healthier state than George Graham. As Ferguson has proved at Man Utd, it takes years to build the solid foundations of a dynasty. Given the time he needs Arsene Wenger could well create something special. Rome and football teams were not built in a day. The Arsenal-nouveau who leapt on George Graham's band wagon might like to reflect that previously we waited eighteen years between 1971 and 1989 for a championship. (Thinking about it the previous championship gap - 1971 to 1953 - was also eighteen years). None of us will ever forget the cups and the glory that George gave us, but what's gone is gone. The future is Arsene Wenger's vision of Arsenal. With the ageing squad, antiquated training set up and the moribund youth policy he inherited he deserves at least two more seasons before we finally pass judgement. If that doesn't suit the impatient, instant-success brigade that form the backbone of the Arsenal-nouveau, tough!

Bon Chance Arsene!