Arsène Wenger was appointed Arsenal manager 30 years ago, an event that reshaped the club and English football. His arrival on 30 September 1996 marked the start of a 22-year tenure that brought three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, including an unbeaten league season.
David Dein, the club's vice-chairman at the time, made the decisive introduction. "His name is Arsène Wenger," Dein said, presenting the then-little-known Frenchman to succeed Bruce Rioch. Wenger, now 76, was not the only candidate considered, with Johan Cruyff also in the frame.
He modernised everything from training methods to diet, employing specialists like French osteopath Philippe Boixel and psychologist David Elliott. The club signed up with performance analysis firm ProZone, a pioneering move. His intellectual approach earned him the nickname 'Le Professeur' and his teams played a fluid, attacking style unfamiliar to the English game.
Success came quickly. Within 18 months, Wenger delivered a Premier League and FA Cup double. He would go on to win two more league titles, the pinnacle being the 'Invincibles' season of 2003/04 where his side went unbeaten. Former manager Neil Warnock summed up his impact. "Wenger changed the whole course of [English] football," Warnock said.
The foundations Wenger laid continue to support the club's ambitions. Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League with 12 points from five games. Their recent form shows four wins and one defeat, a 3-0 loss at Brighton.
His legacy is a club consistently competing at the top, a fact reflected in the current standings. This season, the team has scored 10 goals, averaging a goal every 45 minutes of play. Arsenal's next fixture is a Premier League match against Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, 5 October at 15:00 BST. After his departure in 2018, the club's structure and global stature remained a sign of his work.
More detail at The Guardian Football
