The Octopus Publishing Group’s Cassell has acquired the rights to “Arsène Who?”, an enthralling book by Ryan Baldi.
The book tells the story of how a then unknown manager, Arsène Wenger, revolutionised Arsenal and English football, turning a struggling side into league and FA Cup winners within two seasons.
- Cassell has secured the rights for “Arsène Who?“, a riveting account by Ryan Baldi chronicling Arsène Wenger’s transformative journey at Arsenal, to be released on 12th October 2023.
- The book, drawing on over 150 exclusive interviews and offering behind-the-scenes anecdotes, charts Arsenal’s journey to the 1998 Double and the start of the Wenger revolution.
- “Arsène Who?” paints a picture of an ageing and troubled squad coming together with foreign players under Wenger’s leadership, helping Arsenal rise to new heights in a shifting cultural and sporting landscape.
You can pre-order ‘Arsène Who? here
‘Arsène Who?’ — delving into Arsenal’s transformative journey
Cassell, an imprint of the Octopus Publishing Group, has procured the rights to a riveting new book, “Arsène Who?”.
Authored by Ryan Baldi, this book dives into the captivating story of then-relatively unknown manager, Arsène Wenger, and his revolutionary impact on Arsenal and English football at large.
The dawn of the Wenger era at Arsenal
Upon Wenger’s arrival at Arsenal in October 1996, the football community greeted him with scepticism, encapsulated in the headline, ‘Arsène Who?’.
However, the Frenchman quickly silenced critics, transforming an underperforming Arsenal side into league and FA Cup winners in less than two full seasons.
His innovative methods revolutionised the club’s style, ushering in breathtaking football that reshaped English football.
You can pre-order ‘Arsène Who? here
Reviving the 1998 Double season
“Arsène Who?” paints a vivid picture of Arsenal’s challenging journey to the 1998 Double and the start of the Wenger revolution.
Drawing from over 150 exclusive interviews with key players, coaches, staff, and opponents, Baldi takes readers behind the scenes, sharing personal accounts of triumph, tragedy, hilarity, and heartbreak.
The book features contributions from Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Nigel Winterburn, David Platt, Pat Rice, David Dein, physios Gary and Colin Lewin, kit man Vic Ackers and more.
You can pre-order ‘Arsène Who? here
The mastermind behind Arsenal’s rise
Wenger’s arrival at Arsenal signalled the blending of a troubled and ageing squad with an influx of foreign talent.
This fusion created a harmonious team that achieved footballing immortality.
Wenger’s innovative approach, combined with his unique leadership style, played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s rise, changing the landscape of English football forever.
Ryan Baldi: Chronicling an epoch-defining era
Ryan Baldi, the author of “Arsène Who?”, is a renowned sports writer, with work featured on prestigious platforms like BBC Sport, the Guardian, and FourFourTwo.
His previous book, “The Dream Factory: Inside the Make-or-Break World of Football’s Academies”, made it to the longlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, further affirming his credentials in the field.
About the book, Baldi said, “It’s been a privilege to have spent the last couple of years speaking with key figures from within Arsenal’s historic 1998 Double-winning side and I’m delighted to have teamed up with Octopus to bring this book to life.
“Arsène Who? is the definitive story of one of English football’s most entertaining and influential teams and the manager who changed the game.
“I’m confident it will appeal not only to Arsenal fans but to anyone with an interest in football, the dynamics of team building and tales of triumph against adversity.”