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Arsenal Fan View: It's time we all said 'Merci Arsene'

Kabir Nagpal
The legendary Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) in 1996 and in 2016.
The legendary Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) in 1996 and in 2016.

Inevitability is probably one of the weirdest feelings in this world. The kind of feeling that builds up over years and years, but never really prepares you for it in any way. The departure of Arsene Wenger from Arsenal after 22 years is the prime example of that inevitable event that no “bad season” under his reign could have prepared me for.

And because of that, I’m not prepared to talk about what happens next. I’m not prepared to understand the gravitas of there being no more Wenger in the dugout next season, and no more claims of “I didn’t see it” in the post-match conference.

No, today all I want to talk about is the man who has given two decades of his career to a club that was always meant to be his legacy. Be it the commonalities in their names, in their values or their strengths-Arsene Wenger was, is and forever will be an Arsenal man.

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From his arrival in 1996 to his last press conference in 2018, we have and will see no other manager who is this dedicated to one club. More so, dedicated to maintaining the values of the club which he embodies in every walk of daily life.

Loyalty, tenacity, humility, self-confidence, selflessness and never-give-up attitude: these six have been the core values that now are in the foundations of this football club. Wenger has exhibited these values every time he spoke to the press, every time he dealt with a shocking loss and every time he shattered records that nobody could think were possible.

Comparisons with managers of today, the “practical ones” et al is futile. Not one of them has a Golden Trophy to their name. Not a single of them can say they single-handedly revolutionized English Football. Not a single one of them can talk about building a legacy of youth who went to become legends of the sport. Funnily enough, nor will Wenger. Because that’s not who he is.

He is the man who is the shield for each and every one of his players. He has protected the board members, the owners, the groundsmen, everyone. This is the kind of man who wouldn’t let anyone speak ill of disloyal and ungrateful players even after they had abandoned the team that made them-scratch that-the man who made them.

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Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal with the trophy during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea .
Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal with the trophy during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea .

It speaks to everyone who calls themselves an Arsenal fan to recognize what this man has done for us. He has shown us how beautiful football can be, and just how much you have to sacrifice to keep it that way. For the rest, he has shown what it means to truly love something so much, you take every hit that comes its way and smile as the naysayers build a TV channel to make money at your expense.

If there is one thing that we, as real Arsenal fans can do, it is show our solidarity and support for Arsene Wenger one last time. From the home game against West Ham till the last game of the season, sing for this man; bring the banners that will make him smile; appreciate the genius that has molded this club to heights unforeseen.

In short: give Arsene Wenger the inevitable send-off he deserves. Show your love and show it well. You won’t realize, and he will be gone. What comes next, will have to wait. For once, let’s end the debate. The greatest Arsenal manager ever is just one-One Arsene Wenger, comparable to none.