by Lewis Ambrose

Ahead of the FA Cup Final Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger candidly spoke to Gabby Logan for an interview shown on Football Focus.

Wenger spoke about a number of things, but above almost anything else his love for the club shone through.

Time

Over time it is clear that Arsenal has come to mean more and more to the Arsenal manager, who admits to feeling responsible for the club. There is quite clearly a strong emotional attachment to the biggest club in London.

“The longer you stay somewhere the more you feel responsible for everything.”

And he means everything. Wenger’s endeavours have meant that Arsenal are secure for the long-term future. As his tenure has gone on he has clearly thought more and more about where the club will end up after his time in charge, not just where it is for the time being.

“When you stay like I did for 17 or 18 years you know that you have a big influence, a big responsibility, and you realise that over the years.”

Providing us with a great platform, Wenger has risen to the challenge.

Objective

In order to do so he hasn’t been able to act or react like a fan, always keeping his head and not letting emotion get in the way too much.

“You know people cry when you don’t do well and you feel responsible for their sadness.”

And has he cried?

“I’ve learnt to control myself during my career because I’m very emotional.

“When I don’t control anymore I’m in trouble.”

But he will be emotional once he leaves.

Fan

When the time does come, Arsène Wenger will be in the stands watching his beloved Arsenal just like the rest of us.

“I’ll buy a season ticket and go to the games. I’l become a normal fan.

“I’ll wear red and white and hope that Arsenal will win on Saturday.

“Maybe then I can let my emotions go.”

Arsène Wenger is already an Arsenal fan, and one day he really will be a ‘normal’ one.

So he will scream and shout just like the rest of us. Maybe he’ll even cry with us and his replacement will be responsible, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.