Arsene Wenger makes Arsenal F.C. one of the biggest football clubs in the world
Arsenal F.C. is a professional football club based in North London, United Kingdom. The Club is usually referred to as Arsenal or ‘The Gunners’ and is amongst the oldest football clubs in Britain. Since their establishment in 1886, they have become one of the biggest football clubs in the world, known all over the globe for their attractive brand of attacking football and a flourishing youth policy which has been employed by their manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger, known to the press by his nickname 'the Professor' for his education background as well as his philosophical views on football, has managed Arsenal through arguably their most successful spell in their entire history. After joining the club in 1996, the French manager has transformed the club completely, giving it a new identity and winning the hearts of fans all over. When Arsene Wenger took over, Arsenal were known in the English game as a team that played a boring brand of football, but Arsene changed that with signings like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Robert Pires to name a few. Under the Wenger revolution, the club has managed to win 3 Premier league titles and 4 FA Cups, although the prestigious UEFA Champions League has still eluded him. He came very close to guiding Arsenal to the Champions League title in 2006, but they lost out to Barcelona in the final.
While Arsene Wenger has been praised all over the world for what he has achieved at Arsenal, recently some sections of the fans and media began to question his philosophy when it comes to football. Star players like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Flamini were allowed to leave the club and were never properly replaced. At present, the Club Captain, Cesc Fabregas, appears to be on the verge of a move to his boyhood club, Barcelona. Arsenal have struggled to hold on to their best players in recent years and Wenger's reluctance to spend on experienced players from other clubs has meant that Arsenal have had one of the most barren spells in their recent history. They have not won the league since 2004. They finished last season trophy-less, as was the season before it.
The Arsenal team Captain, Francesc Fabregas wears the number 4 jersey and is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe right now. Up front, Arsenal have the talented Dutchman Robin Van Persie, who is yet to repay his manager’s faith in him due to a number of injuries that have plagued his time at Arsenal. The Gunners also have a number of promising youngsters, including Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, who will take over the reigns from the current crop of players very soon.
So far this summer, The Professor has added Marouane Chamakh to the line-up. Chamakh is a highly rated forward who has joined Arsenal on a free-transfer from the French club Bordeaux. Arsenal have also been linked to another free agent i.e. Joe Cole, who was released from Chelsea, although that is just speculation at this point. It is widely agreed by critics and fans that Arsenal need another keeper, a defender and someone in the middle of the park in order to go for the title in the coming season.
It remains to be seen whether Arsene will fulfil those needs. As it stands though, Arsenal will be looking to improve on last season’s 3rd position in the table. As long as they don't lose their Captain Cesc Fabregas, they will definitely be in the running for all major honours, including the UEFA Champions League, and who knows; maybe they will end their barren spell and redeem the manager’s faith in the young side.
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