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'Finishing fourth is like winning a trophy' - Arsene Wenger's stubborn statement piles further agony for the starving fans
Goal.com's Debjit Lahiri looks into why Arsene Wenger's recent statement was completely uncalled for...
23-Feb-2012 12:10:00 AM
Getty Images
EDITORIAL
By Debjit Lahiri
It was for a reason that they had called them the "The Invincibles". An adjective that by no means could have been termed as an exaggeration of a short term success; rather it epitomized a rise of what seemed like a daunting empire. Led by the wily professor, Arsenal had forged for them a team that dominated an entire course of a season without the slightest of hiccups. It was not just about the mere quality of the team but the way they were assimilated into an unbeatable unit.
Arsene Wenger's eye for talent was indisputable. As once termed by former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, the Frenchman was a "miracle worker" who was able to get the most out of the minimal resources he had and was successful in adapting to potentially "fatal" outgoing transfers. While in the early part of his tenure in 1996, Wenger groomed Patrick Vieira into an indomitable presence in the midfield, he moulded the 'young talents' of Theirry Henry and Robert Pires into club legends by the turn of the new millennium; all of them going onto play a pivotal role in the memorable 2003/04 campaign. His very own scouting talent couldn't have been possibly rivalled by any other manager in the country.
However, for everything that rises, it eventually does have to to fall. Perhaps that is very law of nature. The least we can do is ascertain the possible junctures of decline and delay the inevitable for as long as we can. The longer one delays, the longer they stay at the top and longer lasts their legacy.
It is the man's ability to identify these 'junctures' and be pro-active enough to seek out for the cushion that creates the thin line between being a great and being THE greatest.
Aurangzeb's Mughal empire in 1689 streched a mammoth 1.25million square miles and ruled over 150 million subjects; nearly 1/4th of the world's population, all of which that made him arguably the most powerful man in the world. However, over the course of his rule, his adamant war policies and fundamental outlook of religion blinded him to foresee the unrest that was to brew up among his subjects in the later years; one which eventually led to the downfall of the mighty empire.
While this seemingly "out of context" reference might suddenly take you aback, Aurangzeb's rule actually provides a key analogy to the modern day 'footballing empire' of Arsene Wenger. Being stubborn is one of the pivotal ingredients one needs to succeed as a leader; however, it is equally important to realize when to adapt and be flexible to the demands of the surroundings.
Looking a bit closer at the Frenchman's tenure over the last 16 years, it wouldn't be difficult to differentiate two distinct phases of Arsenal Football Club. Wenger had always been a manager who would scout and promote the young prodigies to perform at the highest level; going by the philosophy of making stars rather than buying them. During the first phase, the philosophy paid rich dividends. Wenger possessed the "Midas touch" and whomever he would decide to groom would go on to succeed at the top level. Arsenal entered the pinnacle of it's glory days.
Post 2004, when the side was once again undergoing a "mini transition", Wenger quite understandably stuck to the same philosophy that had been so successful in the past.
However, this time things did not fall the way it should have been. Over the course of the next few years, the new generation of "Wenger products" decided to leave for greener pastures at least half a decade too early for the club's liking, most notably the likes of Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini.
I Want To Move! | Next Generation Of 'Wenger Products' Left At least Half A Decade Too Early
This unexpected turbulence in the club meant Wenger had to think out of the hat to fill those voids. The situation demanded more flexibility and for once Wenger had to resort to "buying" stars rather than making them. However, he was not to be dittered from his philosophy as he once again seeked for yet another generation of "to be stars", which was never meant to be.
He must realize it is not always possible to get "value for money" and sometimes the players are as good as the minimal money you pay for them. The acquisition of the likes of Park Chu-Young, Johan Djourou, Marouane Chamakh and Sébastien Squillaci is no doubt a perfect testament to this and more than anything, it also points out to the fact that how Wenger has lost his former "scouting eye".
Something that Wenger should have himself realized by now, but instead he has simply been able to overlook the alarmingly diminishing standards of his playing squad.
And when at last he was actually forced to make some panic buys this summer following the 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Manchester United, he could do nothing but fill the club with further mediocrity; handing himself possibly the worst Arsenal squad of his tenure.
Wenger's comments about 'Champions League spot being as important as a trophy' following his team's successive defeats against Milan and Sunderland, which more or less ended all hopes of a trophy this year, adds further to the agony of the fans, who have been now starving for a silverware over the last 7 years.
And while the statement is very much a 'realistic' interpretation of Arsenal's current state of affairs and probably the Champions League qualification is indeed the best they can hope for this season, it is Wenger who is himself to be partially blamed for bringing the team to such a point.
A club of Arsenal's stature is meant to win trophies, not to sit back being a "better than average" team. But unfortunately for them that is what they are now, given the quality of the squad.
It may sound like an overstatement but Robin Van Persie is indeed the closest you would get to a player who is almost as big as the club, and if Arsenal continue to be the same, sooner rather than later the Dutchman will reconsider his future at the Emirates.
It is important to note that the Carling Cup final defeat last season at the hands of Birmingham City, a team that would later go on to be relegated from the Premier League, has been quite significant as it has further choked down their ambition. A defeat that has led to a "its never going to happen" feel about the whole environment . The sooner Arsenal can break this jinx, the sooner they will be able to banish this negativity surrounding the club. And for that a silverware is very much the call for the hour.
On the brighter side, Arsenal do have the likes of Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey who seem destined to shine at the big stage. And yes, Wenger is still the right man to guide them but having said that it is also extremely important that he injects a dose of flexibility in his approach and adds a few more 'Van Persie's to the squad so that the club can see through the turbulent phase and also at the same time give these youngsters the necessary time to develop.
Follow Debjit Lahiri on
Arsene Wenger Is Still the Right Man To Lead Arsenal But Does He Need To Change His Approach? Give In Your Views...
By Debjit Lahiri
It was for a reason that they had called them the "The Invincibles". An adjective that by no means could have been termed as an exaggeration of a short term success; rather it epitomized a rise of what seemed like a daunting empire. Led by the wily professor, Arsenal had forged for them a team that dominated an entire course of a season without the slightest of hiccups. It was not just about the mere quality of the team but the way they were assimilated into an unbeatable unit.
Arsene Wenger's eye for talent was indisputable. As once termed by former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, the Frenchman was a "miracle worker" who was able to get the most out of the minimal resources he had and was successful in adapting to potentially "fatal" outgoing transfers. While in the early part of his tenure in 1996, Wenger groomed Patrick Vieira into an indomitable presence in the midfield, he moulded the 'young talents' of Theirry Henry and Robert Pires into club legends by the turn of the new millennium; all of them going onto play a pivotal role in the memorable 2003/04 campaign. His very own scouting talent couldn't have been possibly rivalled by any other manager in the country.
The Wily Professor | He Scouted The Best Of Talents And Led Arsenal To 'The Invincible' Season
However, for everything that rises, it eventually does have to to fall. Perhaps that is very law of nature. The least we can do is ascertain the possible junctures of decline and delay the inevitable for as long as we can. The longer one delays, the longer they stay at the top and longer lasts their legacy.
It is the man's ability to identify these 'junctures' and be pro-active enough to seek out for the cushion that creates the thin line between being a great and being THE greatest.
Aurangzeb's Mughal empire in 1689 streched a mammoth 1.25million square miles and ruled over 150 million subjects; nearly 1/4th of the world's population, all of which that made him arguably the most powerful man in the world. However, over the course of his rule, his adamant war policies and fundamental outlook of religion blinded him to foresee the unrest that was to brew up among his subjects in the later years; one which eventually led to the downfall of the mighty empire.
While this seemingly "out of context" reference might suddenly take you aback, Aurangzeb's rule actually provides a key analogy to the modern day 'footballing empire' of Arsene Wenger. Being stubborn is one of the pivotal ingredients one needs to succeed as a leader; however, it is equally important to realize when to adapt and be flexible to the demands of the surroundings.
Looking a bit closer at the Frenchman's tenure over the last 16 years, it wouldn't be difficult to differentiate two distinct phases of Arsenal Football Club. Wenger had always been a manager who would scout and promote the young prodigies to perform at the highest level; going by the philosophy of making stars rather than buying them. During the first phase, the philosophy paid rich dividends. Wenger possessed the "Midas touch" and whomever he would decide to groom would go on to succeed at the top level. Arsenal entered the pinnacle of it's glory days.
Post 2004, when the side was once again undergoing a "mini transition", Wenger quite understandably stuck to the same philosophy that had been so successful in the past.
However, this time things did not fall the way it should have been. Over the course of the next few years, the new generation of "Wenger products" decided to leave for greener pastures at least half a decade too early for the club's liking, most notably the likes of Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini.
This unexpected turbulence in the club meant Wenger had to think out of the hat to fill those voids. The situation demanded more flexibility and for once Wenger had to resort to "buying" stars rather than making them. However, he was not to be dittered from his philosophy as he once again seeked for yet another generation of "to be stars", which was never meant to be.
He must realize it is not always possible to get "value for money" and sometimes the players are as good as the minimal money you pay for them. The acquisition of the likes of Park Chu-Young, Johan Djourou, Marouane Chamakh and Sébastien Squillaci is no doubt a perfect testament to this and more than anything, it also points out to the fact that how Wenger has lost his former "scouting eye".
Something that Wenger should have himself realized by now, but instead he has simply been able to overlook the alarmingly diminishing standards of his playing squad.
And when at last he was actually forced to make some panic buys this summer following the 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Manchester United, he could do nothing but fill the club with further mediocrity; handing himself possibly the worst Arsenal squad of his tenure.
Wenger's comments about 'Champions League spot being as important as a trophy' following his team's successive defeats against Milan and Sunderland, which more or less ended all hopes of a trophy this year, adds further to the agony of the fans, who have been now starving for a silverware over the last 7 years.
 |
"Finishing fourth would be like winning a trophy. It is the first trophy."
- Arsene Wenger
|
And while the statement is very much a 'realistic' interpretation of Arsenal's current state of affairs and probably the Champions League qualification is indeed the best they can hope for this season, it is Wenger who is himself to be partially blamed for bringing the team to such a point.
A club of Arsenal's stature is meant to win trophies, not to sit back being a "better than average" team. But unfortunately for them that is what they are now, given the quality of the squad.
It may sound like an overstatement but Robin Van Persie is indeed the closest you would get to a player who is almost as big as the club, and if Arsenal continue to be the same, sooner rather than later the Dutchman will reconsider his future at the Emirates.
It is important to note that the Carling Cup final defeat last season at the hands of Birmingham City, a team that would later go on to be relegated from the Premier League, has been quite significant as it has further choked down their ambition. A defeat that has led to a "its never going to happen" feel about the whole environment . The sooner Arsenal can break this jinx, the sooner they will be able to banish this negativity surrounding the club. And for that a silverware is very much the call for the hour.
On the brighter side, Arsenal do have the likes of Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey who seem destined to shine at the big stage. And yes, Wenger is still the right man to guide them but having said that it is also extremely important that he injects a dose of flexibility in his approach and adds a few more 'Van Persie's to the squad so that the club can see through the turbulent phase and also at the same time give these youngsters the necessary time to develop.
Follow Debjit Lahiri on
Arsene Wenger Is Still the Right Man To Lead Arsenal But Does He Need To Change His Approach? Give In Your Views...
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