Top 5: Arsène Wenger's Biggest Achievements as Arsenal Manager
Arsène Wenger OBE (French pronunciation: [aʁsɛn vɛŋɡɛʁ]; born 22 October 1949) is a French football manager and former player. He has been the manager of Arsenal since October 1996, where he has since become the club's longest-serving manager and most successful in terms of major titles won. Football pundits give Wenger credit for his contribution to the revolutionizing of football in England in the late 1990s through the introduction of changes in the training and diet of players. In April 2018, he announced his intention to step down as Arsenal manager at the end of the 2017–18 season, after almost 22 years in the role. While the news has been met with mixed reaction from the club's fans, here's a look back at five of his best achievements during his time at Arsenal so far:
The double in 1997/98
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The 2003/04 Invincibles
#11.5In the club's 109th season, Arsenal went through an entire league campaign without a single defeat. They recorded 26 wins, 12 draws and didn't pick up any losses. Despite getting eliminated in the FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League, the Invincibles are considered to be one of the greatest teams to have ever played the Premier League. For their incredible run, the club was awarded a golden replica trophy by the Premier League as they set an unbeaten record for 49 games. Arsene Wenger was celebrated as one of the greatest manager's to ever set foot on English soil and the 2003/04 campaign remains one of his most cherished seasons in football ever.
7 FA Cup trophies
#22.0For all the vitriol Arsene Wenger has been subjected to this season, no one can argue with his record in the FA Cup. The Frenchman has won the tournament on seven separate occasions as an Arsenal manager. He previously jointly held the record with George Ramsay, who did the same with Aston Villa. No one expected the manager to pick up his seventh trophy when they faced a highly motivated Chelsea side at Wembley in 2017. In one of the most celebrated cup competitions in European football, Wenger's name has been etched in history. The win in the 2016/17 has also helped the Gunners become the team with most FA Cup wins, 13 in total.
The double in 1997/98
#32.5A team that consisted of the likes of Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright, Emmanuel Petit. Tony Adams and David Seaman, Arsenal were almost an unstoppable force in the 1997/98 season. The Frenchman, during his first full campaign at the club, managed one of his greatest teams. For the first time in seven years, the London club tasted league success. They pipped Manchester United to the title after an impressive streak of 10 wins on the trot overturned a 12-point deficit. They beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the FA Cup final to clinch a historic second double in the history of the club.
The 2006 Champions League final
#44.0Arsenal was set to face Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final. The match was to be held at the Stade de France, and it would see Barcelona appear in their fifth final and Arsenal in their first. In fact, Arsenal was to be the first London club to feature in a major European final. Arsene Wenger's side incredibly didn't concede a goal in the knockout stages against formidable opponents such as Real Madrid, Juventus, and Villareal. Despite the disappointing 2-1 result in favor of the Catalans, the Gunners were on top of their game during an impressive European run and would have had a better chance of winning had they not been reduced to 10 men early in the final. The run to the final has been their best ever result in the UEFA Champions League so far.
Moving to the Emirates Stadium
#55.0The move from Highbury to the Emirates was itself described as the "biggest decision in Arsenal's history" by the manager himself. Having explored the possibility of moving into a new stadium way back in 1997, the club eventually made it their home in 2006. Currently the third-largest football stadium in England, it has played a pivotal role in the modernization of the club. Arsenal have increased their match day revenue by 111% and Arsene Wenger has helped see the transition through. Despite the club having to pay back heavy debts following their move to the Emirates stadium, Wenger ensured the club did not fall out of the Champions League, doing whatever was needed to help the team finish in the top four consistently.
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