There was no need for this.
Whatever you want to say about Arsene Wenger, there’s no denying that the French man always had the best interests of Arsenal at heart.
A refreshing outlier from the norm in modern day football, Wenger stayed loyal in North London for 22 years, and it more than likely would have been more were it not for his fears of being pushed away by the club’s board at the end of the season, as recent reports revealed. A true gunner, his emotional investment in his club was clear for all to see.
Genuine passion, every fibre of Arsene’s being was and still is red. Admittedly, after rolling with the punches for so long, in recent years it has looked as if Wenger had finally been defeated by the incessant blows of football, of his own fans giving him disgraceful stick, of his team constantly failing due to the same deficiencies.
But where other managers would have moved on, Wenger stayed. He knew no other way. This wasn’t about him, it was never about him because Arsenal and the ambition to put see this club succeed was always his number one priority.
The Premier League won’t be the same without its longest serving manager, however. That’s because Wenger is such an admirable man.
Never once in his reign did players criticise his ways, never once did he blame his players. He always met the blows head on even when you could tell they were cutting him open and breaking him down.
There’s something so noble about Arsene Wenger, a man who deserved to bow out on his own sword. Something so gallant, so honest, and maybe in the end that honesty was his own downfall.
It was sad enough when those revelations came out during the week that he had been forced out but even sadder was Geoff Shreeves’ post-match interview with the 68-year-old after Arsenal’s defeat of West Ham on Sunday.
The Strasbourg native deserves respect and so much of it. Geoff Shreeves didn’t show him much of that.
Just like Wenger’s face fell with every goal Arsenal conceded, his down-turned eyes and bitten lip in response to an unnecessarily difficult question from Shreeves was a tough, tough watch.
Here is how that interview went.
Shreeves: The games are counting down now, can you clarify for us, because whenever we’ve asked you before about whether or not you would resign, you always say to us ‘I will respect my contract.’?
Wenger: That is what I do, I respect my contract, I was sitting on the bench today and I respected my contract.
And then Shreeves went ahead and asked a question that we all knew the answer to, and one that we knew Wenger was never going to answer honestly.
Shreeves: But you have a year, next year, Have you made this decision because the board inferred to you that they were making a change so you could take the lead?
Wenger’s response was awkward. What else would it be, really?
Wenger: I have nothing to say to that. I think it was in my statement what I wanted to say.
Then he went digging for more, with the most meaningless question you’re likely to hear.
Shreeves: Are you sad?
Wenger: No, I’m happy because we won the game…
Before Shreeves butted in.
Shreeves: You know what I’m referring to…
Wenger: Let’s continue to separate my feelings from the results of the team.
Wenger looked mystified. He looked upset. So were loads of people watching.
