Arsene Wenger was appointed Arsenal boss 20 years ago today: How his arrival transformed Premier League outlook
‘WHO?’
That was the general reaction of Arsenal fans 20 years ago today after the board announced Bruce Rioch’s permanent replacement as boss would be some French guy who was managing in Japan.
Arsene Wenger was underwhelmingly named Gunners boss on September 16, 1996.
It had been over five years since the glory days of George Graham, and surely Nagoya Grampus Eight’s manager wasn’t about to bring the title back to Highbury, was he?
Wenger was already blessed with having one of the best defensive units in the history of English football. Now all he had to do was work on the midfield and attack.
Immediately prior to his appointment, Arsenal had confirmed the signings of Frenchmen Remi Garde and AC Milan reject, Patrick Vieira.
In February 1997, he ensured the Gunners beat all their rivals to sign highly-rated 17-year-old Nicolas Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain.
Later that season, Wenger proved he really hadn’t read the Premier League rulebook when he took on the one man most shied away from: Sir Alex Ferguson.
With Manchester United in the Champions League semi-finals, the legendary Scot appealed for the domestic season to be extended in order to his weary travellers.
However, Wenger publicly condemned the request — and was labelled a “novice” by an angry Ferguson.
A rivalry was born — and it would become the main feature in clashes between their two sides for the best part of the next decade.
Related Stories
And, just a year later Arsenal beat United home and away to wrestle the title away — Wenger became the first non-British manager to win England’s top flight.
Victory over Newcastle in that season’s FA Cup final saw the Gunners become only the second team to win the ‘Double’ for a second time.
Prior to Wenger’s arrival, English football was mainly reserved for the tough rather than the skillful.
But the Frenchman introduced a new style which fused the two.
Vieira brawn in midfield alongside the likes of Ray Parlour and Emmanuel Petit allowed flair players such as Marc Overmars and Robert Pires to flourish.
Prem's foreign-winning bosses post-Wenger
Jose Mourinho — Chelsea ('05, '06, '14)
Carlo Ancelotti — Chelsea ('10)
Roberto Mancini — Man City ('12)
Manuel Pellegrini — Man City ('14)
Claudio Ranieri — Leicester ('16)
On August 3, 1999, the Gunners paid Juventus just £11million in what would turn out to be one of the best pieces of business in English football history.
Thierry Henry had been unhappy in Turin as he had been pushed from his preferred central striking role to the left-wing.
Wenger built the attack around his fellow countryman and was handsomely rewarded.
Alongside Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord, Arsenal would make history again in 2002.
After three consecutive seasons as runners up to United, they won the title back in style.
They became the first side to score in every match and finish unbeaten away from home.
Even sweeter was the fact they sealed the title at Old Trafford through Wiltord’s goal.
Goals from Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg against Chelsea at Wembley saw the Gunners again complete a ‘Double’.
But the best was yet to come.
In 2003-04, Arsenal were determined to win back the title they had blown the season before.
Not only were they crowned champions, they finished the entire campaign without losing a single game.
The ‘Invincibles’ went down in history. In total, their unbeaten run in the league would stretch to a record-breaking 49 games.
The significant cost of moving from Highbury to the Emirates coupled with failure to replace the enormous personalities of Vieira, Bergkamp and Henry has seen the trophy count somewhat dry up since.
With a staggering six viotories, Wenger is the most successful manager in FA Cup history.
In 2016, however, he has become the brunt of anger for many Arsenal fans.
This may be his last season as Gunners boss.
But, whatever happens, it’s important to never forget the Frenchman’s enormous contribution in making the Premier League the global attraction it is today.