Lessons from Arsene Wenger
“ARSENE WHO?” were the words emblazoned on the cover of the London Evening Standard on October 1, 1996 in mockery of the silent giant from Alsace, France. I was but a toddler and probably would’ve asked the same question were I a decade older, albeit in genuine ignorance of the man.
Several years later and I fell irredeemably in love with football - I wound up an Arsenal fan in my pre-teens, thanks in no small part, to yet another Frenchman, Thierry Henry, who’s playing style I found exceedingly graceful. Thereafter, my passion for, and knowledge of, the game spiraled uncontrollably, and my fandom for my new found club blossomed in tow.
I consumed every bit of information about the club. I could soon recite the match-day starting eleven and eventually, I took notice of the manager too. “Wait, Arsene?”, “Is Arsenal actually named after him?”, I remember thinking to myself. Alas, it just may have been written in the stars. Much like Thierry on the pitch, Arsene exuded an aura off the pitch that endeared him to me over the years.
And so, in October 2020, two long years into his retirement from management when Arsene announced his autobiography, I jumped in line for a pre-order. “My life in red and white” easily slots in my favorite 2020 reads. While I do have my criticisms, I prefer to share a few of my many takeaways from the book.
It is not particularly wise to vilify what you do not understand. Something I observe in the wise people I am grateful to know is that they are slow, very slow to blurting out criticisms. One may presuppose this is rooted in guilt, indifference or even cowardice but I tend to disagree. After the sudden highs Arsenal experienced under Arsene, the club went on a protracted barren run that yielded absolutely zero success. Fans around the world, myself included refused to cut Arsene any slack and began calling for his head. However, this book exposes the nature of the precarious financial situation Arsenal were plunged into. A situation Arsene had to manage in ways that would rob him and Arsenal a great deal. The reality is we may never recognize what we do not fully understand and so one must criticize exclusively in fairness, perceived necessity and out of an abundance of patience.
“One should never relive old love affairs: Arsenal is a fundamental part of my life, my heart, my memories, but it is not for me to think about its future”. I found this an interesting one which probably also applies to romantic relationships. It is a noble proposition that may only be feasible when no stone is left unturned. As I see it, it is a call in two parts: enjoy every love affair - be it romantic or a connection to something - to the fullest. And if the day ever comes where you must part with it - particularly if it’s bequeathed to someone else, you must do so without looking back.
For all of his passion for Arsenal and the limelight that comes with being its manager, Arsene lived a mostly ascetic life throughout his career. Living separately from his wife and daughter for a lot of his football life is something that took me by surprise. In the book, he says he only frequented a friends house, the stadium and a mailing station while living in the bristling city of London with more than enough resources to do otherwise. Reinforcing for me, the fact that no life, no matter how glamorous externally, is without its valleys and contentment is a choice.
“I am not frightened to say it…Arsenal can go through the whole season unbeaten” Arsene famously said in 2003. For context, this had never been done before. Arsene had told his players the season before to set this as a target. They obviously scorned it but he consistently repeated it watering the seed already planted in their minds. One of the top players, Patrick Viera, when asked about Arsene’s greatest strength said “Trust, his trust in his players”. I believe unshakable trust in someone is one of the most remarkable gifts you can give. And the next season, in 2004, they only went and did it! Arsenal went the entire season unbeaten - a feat that is yet to be repeated.
Arsene at his last game in charge of Arsenal
I still have never met the man - the closest we’ve come is within 100 yards of each other - when I saw “The Arsenal” play a pre-season game live in Los Angeles. Nonetheless, this book has revealed parts of the man I wouldn’t have otherwise imagined.
Recommended: Tribute to Arsene Wenger by Arsenal FC
Take less ✌🏽