Merci Arsene

Two years ago, Arsene Wenger said goodbye to Arsenal after his final match. This was what I wrote at the time…

In many respects, Arsenal’s 2-1 hammering of the newly crowned Premier League champions, Chelsea, in the Wembley sunshine last May can now be regarded as the cruelest of false dawns.

When you first came into my life, I had no idea who you were. Years later and I know you but you don’t know me, how could you?

In 2004, Roman Abramovich, who had recently become the owner of Chelsea Football Club, started putting together the pieces necessary for the rise of the club as a superpower.

So it’s over. Almost. There will be no banging send-off, no trophy to mark the end of his days as Arsenal manager.

Arsene Wenger was presented with a trophy before the match against Manchester United to honour his time at Arsenal, but do you know what it actually said on it?

24 hours on from the news that Arsene Wenger will be leaving Arsenal after 22 years in charge, I’m still not entirely sure that it’s sunk in.

After 22 years at the same football club, the ability to shock and rock a fanbase that has seen and heard it all still lives on in Arsene Wenger, because that’s exactly what he did on Thursday morning when he announced he would end a lifelong tradition and break a contract for the first time.

On Friday morning, Arsene Wenger announced his decision to step down from Arsenal Football Club this summer, after almost 22 years in charge.