It’s been 22 years since “Arsene who?” splashed across the back page of national newspapers. On Sunday afternoon, Arsene Wenger’s monumental reign as Arsenal manager drew to an emotional conclusion in the North London sunshine. His last words to the Gunners fans: “I will miss you.”

 

When Wenger stepped through the door at Highbury in 1996, hardly anybody knew who he was, talk about foreseeing the legacy he wound leave behind. The professorial-looking Frenchman who landed in London from Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan (never heard of them either...) had a vision - a vision that would revolutionise English football and help form the modern game as we know it.

 

From dieting to training to philosophy. Arsene Wenger transformed the dynamic at Arsenal Football Club in a way that would inspire most of the country to follow. Banning his players from drinking alcohol, controlling their diets and moving to a technical and skillful brand of football saw the unknown Frenchman claim his first domestic double in just his second season at the club.

 

What followed over the next 10 years was continual success in a class which justifies why we label it the “beautiful game”.

 

Wenger won his second league title in the home of arguably his biggest nemesis, Sir Alex Ferguson. But he didn’t stop there. Twenty-six victories, 12 draws and zero defeats in the 2003/04 season saw Wenger make history that is yet to be repeated in the Premier League; an unbeaten league campaign, with the title clinched down the road at rivals Tottenham Hotspur, just to add the cherry on top.

 

The post-Highbury era and defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final in 2006 triggered a tale of two halves for Arsene’s career. The barren years began. His opening seven seasons at Emirates Stadium saw a change in team approach and the type of players brought into the squad.

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There was a new direction. A top four finish in the Premier League became the number one priority for Arsenal who endured a lack of funds to splash on players. It left the club vulnerable and forced to sell one of their stars each season - a sacrifice that loosened their grip on Manchester United and allowed big-spenders Chelsea and Manchester City to come to force. Title challenges were to come close sporadically and hopes of replicating the dominant early stages of Arsene’s career would get further and further away from him and Arsenal as years went by.

 

Fast forward all the way to last Thursday night and the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Europa League final is a damaging wound inflicted on Wenger. Dreams of a final crack at European glory were crushed in Madrid when Arsenal were dumped out by the competition favourites. Premier League action returned against Burnley this time. A last ever walkout to the Emirates Stadium dugout for Arsene Wenger - one final opportunity to watch his side win again in the house he helped build.

 

“It was emotional watching him walk out of the tunnel for the last time; there was a guard of honour and the stadium was already packed out before kick off. That’s how much he meant to football,” said 28-year-old Anil Singh, a steward at Arsenal Football Club. He says he’s witnessed nothing like it.

 

At 4.25pm, Wenger stepped out onto pitch, cuing “One Arsene Wenger” to be sung at the top of Gunners’ fans voices. An array of red “Merci Arsene” t-shirts filled the ground and there was an aura of bizarreness felt in the stadium; a strange feeling.

 

Those at 18, 19, 20 years of age have only ever known one Arsenal manager: One Arsene Wenger. As he took the manager’s seat for the very last time, the guard of honour dispersed and the players headed out into position. There was still a job to be done; football to be played, a legacy to be cemented.

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