Wenger left the Gunners in May 2018 after almost 22 years in charge, having won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. Arsenal did the double in two of their title triumphs and went the whole season unbeaten with their third in 2003-04.
However, they failed to add to their title tally during Wenger’s final 14 years in the dugout and there were repeated calls for him to walk. During an FA Cup tie at Brighton in 2013, Gooners unfurled a banner that read, “Arsene thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye”.
Arsenal endured a nine-year trophy drought between 2005 and 2014 until they won the FA Cup. They retained the trophy in 2015, yet those domestic successes failed to quieten a vocal contingent of the support.
The rise of fan TV in the mid-2010s saw Wenger repeatedly targeted by Arsenal’s performative fans on YouTube and social media. In his latest book, Games of My Life, Ferguson declares him and Wenger as the “last two monuments in Premier League management”.
The Manchester United legend sympathises with his rival’s struggles, which he pins on Arsenal’s move from Highbury to the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Wenger had the opportunity to manage Real Madrid before Arsenal upped sticks for Ashburton Grove but remained in north London.
Ferguson feels Wenger’s “loyalty” contributed to Arsenal’s “faltered form”.
Arsenal lost several key players shortly after the relocation. Manchester City signed Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri within a third-year period after their 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Cesc Fabregas left for Barcelona the same summer that Nasri headed to Manchester in 2011 and Thierry Henry and Alexander Hleb moved to Catalonia in successive summers.
Ferguson even prised Robin van Persie from Arsenal in 2012 after the Dutchman entered the final year of his contract, a move that inspired United’s last title victory in 2013. And Fergie has now written of Wenger’s struggles: “I’m glad I never felt such pressure at Old Trafford.
“The banks even made a contract extension for Arsene a condition of their financing. He was trapped. The way he was treated by some Arsenal fans at the end of his managerial career was a stain on the club’s reputation.”
Despite a bitter rivalry during Wenger’s first 12 years at Arsenal, Ferguson and Wenger had a warmer rapport from around 2008. Ferguson presented Wenger with a gift to mark his retirement ahead of his final match as Arsenal manager at Old Trafford in April 2018.—Sun.
