got a new manager starting here today – it’s
Arsene Wenger’. A voice from the back said,
‘Who the f**k is that?’”
But Wenger’s pedigree was much greater
than most in England gave him credit for.
That had been illustrated a year earlier when
George Weah received the Ballon d’Or and
promptly invited Wenger on stage to hand
his former boss the prize, such had been the
coach’s influence on his career.
Wenger wasn’t confirmed as the Gunners’
gaffer until September 1996, as he waited for
Grampus Eight to release him from his deal
- but he’d already arranged the signings of
both Patrick Vieira and Remi Garde a month
earlier, while still in Japan. Vieira had been
on the verge of joining Ajax having made just
five senior outings for Milan, but Wenger was
able to change the midfielder’s mind.
When the manager arrived in England, he
still couldn’t officially take charge until the
start of October, but headed into the dressing
room at half-time of a UEFA Cup match at
Borussia Monchengladbach and then decided
to substitute captain Tony Adams, knowing
Arsenal needed a goal to get through. It was
a risky move with a wary squad, and it didn’t
work: Arsenal lost 6-4 on aggregate.But the Gunners won his first official match
in charge – Ian Wright netting twice in a 2-0
triumph at Blackburn – and began to respond
to their new boss.
“I inherited a group of players who’d been
serving the club for a while,” says Wenger.
“I took charge in October, and in the first six
or seven months it was very clear what we
needed to improve the team. I still knew the
players in France well, which is not the case
as much any more, but at the time I could
see that because I’d worked at Monaco – so
for instance there was Petit, who I brought in.
Marc Overmars came from Ajax and Dennis“EDU’S In PRISOn !”
In his autobiography, Wenger reveals the story behind two signings that did happen – and one that didn’t
MIDNIGHT TALKS WITH SOL
When Arsenal recruited Sol Campbell from rivals Spurs
in 2001, they had to be careful how they went about it.
Wenger reveals they’d meet for talks at David Dein’s
house at 11pm, then walk around the neighbourhood
until midnight while nobody was about, to keep things
quiet. Campbell joined Arsenal on a free that summer.
PASSPORT WOES
The first time Edu arrived in England from Corinthians,
the midfielder got held at Heathrow for unwittingly
holding a fake passport. Compatriot Sylvinho phoned
Wenger and said, “Edu’s in prison!” Fearing the same
might happen to Sylvinho, Wenger always stood next
to the full-back at passport control during away trips.THE (NON) RETURN OF RVP
Robin van Persie topped the Premier League goal chart
in 2012, before finances forced Wenger to sell him to
Manchester United. The Dutchman had early success
at Old Trafford, but then found it difficult and asked
Wenger if he could return. The boss said no – RVP was
ageing and Arsenal were focusing on younger players.ARSEn E
WEn GER