So what was imminent has happened and Arsene Wenger has signed a 2-year deal which will keep him at the Emirates till 2019. This move has further deepened the furrows in the Arsenal fan base as the #WengerIn and #WengerOut debates keep simmering.
The removal of Stan Kroenke was called for by the #WengerOut brigade to expedite the sacking of the 67-year old Wenger. On the contrary, what transpired changed the dynamics of the fanbase even more.
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But what exactly was the reasoning behind the board reposing their faith on the Frenchman in spite of his repeated failures? Previously, it used to be the consistent Champions League contention which meant more revenue in the form of European competition. This time, Arsenal ended outside the top 4 for the first time in the 20-year reign of Arsene Wenger.
However, that did not tilt the balance in favour of the anti-Wenger army as Arsene Wenger was reinstated. Let us look at a few reasons which actually might have stoked the support for the French manager.
#5 His unwavering commitment to the club
For Arsene Wenger, this year will be his 21st year in charge of the North London club. During his long stint, Wenger had been approached by other teams on numerous occasions. Be it the French national side after the unceremonious exit of Raymond Domenech, or the cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain – Arsene Wenger had been sought by a number of teams.
However, his undeterred commitment and loyalty to the Gunners made the choice much easier for the board. Wenger was there when the club was neck high in debt and oversaw the entire rebuilding process after shifting to the magnificent Emirates Stadium.
A number of players who rose under the tutelage of the manager left for greener pastures. Arsene stayed on and kept the club in the offing for something big.
His relentless endeavours in steering the ship from the choppy waters, staving off the financial lurch and yet competing at the highest level made the decision a rather easy one. For no manager apart from Arsene Wenger could have exhibited a similar stoicism in such acute conditions.
#4 His past glories spoke volumes
Going on a season unbeaten is not a mean feat and keeping a team in the top four for a period of 20 years certainly deserves the plaudits. Overcoming the difficulties and averting the dreaded Europa League with a depleted side outlined the foresight of the professor-esque manager.
He let the players leave and managed with his available resources while at the same time kept the revenues in check with Champions League qualification, paying off the debts simultaneously.
His astuteness was unmatched and the inability to perform well despite the same could not be attributed to the manager only. Fitness has been a major problem for Arsenal, robbing them off significant players during critical times.
The support staff has a bigger role to play in maintaining the well-being of the team and it has been seen that the injuries have often cast a shadow on the title prospects for the Gunners. Thus, maybe, an overhaul is needed in the backroom staff and the medical team needs a reality check to get things in line for the side.
#3 No able replacement willing enough to steady the ship
Arsene Wenger could have easily quit in these torrid times but his love for the club proved to be far superior to his personal glory. At the current juncture, there wasn’t a single name who could have been deemed to be worthy of taking up the mantle at the Emirates.
The club had hit rock bottom and was at the danger of falling off the edge from its erstwhile top-four status.
The situation was volatile and one wrong move could have broken the back of this century-old club. Mid-table obscurity was not what this club had set its aims for.
There were a number of options available as the anti-Wenger brigade held out young options like Eddie Howe or the Red Bull Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhüttl as possible replacements. These were talented managers but their inexperience at handling a top club of the United Kingdom failed their prospects.
Other big names like Maximiliano Allegri or Diego Simeone would not have been keen to handle a team which was on its lowest rung. Although Thomas Tuchel was available after resigning from Borussia Dortmund, the management chose the man with a big heart to shoulder the manager’s role in these difficult times.
Also Read: Twitter trolls Arsenal after club confirms Arsene Wenger contract extension
#2 Arsene Wenger still has the canniest head on his weary shoulders
As many would argue that Monsieur Wenger has lost his touch and should call it a day, it is no surprise that at his age, he has a host of suitors waiting for his signature. Be it PSG, or the French national team, any football team would be eager to lap up this ripe opportunity of having Arsene Wenger as their head coach.
His ability to discern grain from chaff makes it a win-win situation for the management as well as the team. The vision of the manager is validated with incisive buys like an unheard 20-year old Rob Holding.
When the need arose, he stood tall to face the irate and brawny Diego Costa. Holding was impeccable in the FA Cup final and the calmness exhibited by the Briton made him stand out.
Wenger was able to foresee the same and bought the talented defender for a fee as low as £2 million. These days when zillions of pounds are wasted on nonperforming players, Le Professor proved his mettle with his business acumen in the transfer market.
Also Read: Wenger adamant Sanchez and Ozil will not leave Arsenal
#1 At this age, he showed he can still change
When Wenger arrived at London in 1996, the three-man defence system was the more popular choice. He came and revolutionised the system, creating a back four to be supported by four in the midfield and two attackers.
Eventually, the 4-4-2 system was hugely successful as it saw the mercurial combination of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry wreak havoc in the opposition defence.
With time, the Frenchman adopted to the changing needs and shifted to a 4-2-3-1 formation as he tried to make ends meet with a depleted squad. The results were there to see as Arsenal finished in the top four consistently, albeit without the Premier League title for the last 12 years.
Now, when increasing number of teams are countering the balanced 4-2-3-1 with a more aggressive 3-4-3, Wenger switched to a 3-4-2-1 and defeated the Premier League champions in the FA Cup final.
Therefore, as has been argued by the anti-Wenger brigade that the need for a change has not been felt more than before, Wenger showed if the call of the hour demands, he can still tweak and tinker to produce match winning performances.
Also Read: Arsene Wenger: The Arsenal manager's most memorable moments
