Ok let’s get the obvious out of the way first off:

1) Arsene Wenger is without doubt Arsenal’s greatest modern day manager. Since his arrival almost eleven years ago he has brought the club back to life after five years of decay following the title win back in '91 and the ensuing demise of George Graham and the calamity that was the Stewart Houston/Bruce Rioch era, a period that should be termed ‘the year and a half hangover’. Life without Arsene would be almost unthinkable!

2) Stability is a word that has come to mean even more in the speedy quick fix world of the Premier League. Having a manager who has been given time and patience to build something of value, a side and squad that can serve a club not just for one season but for five or more years, this is something that few chairman value. Thankfully Wenger brought success quickly to Highbury and he has been consistently backed by his board. A couple of lean-ish years are to be expected but now it appears that the third generation of the Arsene Army is maturing into his best force yet.

'A couple of lean-ish years are to be expected but now it appears that the third generation of the Arsene Army is maturing into his best force yet'


3) Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal’s number four arrived in North London as a 16-year-old, another gem unearthed by the mercurial boss, shaped and polished and now quite possibly the greatest football player on the planet. Can you imagine any other football manager being so astute and inspirational? Do not say Christian Gross!

4) The Perfect season 2003/04. A feat not likely to be repeated any time soon. Who would have thought 25 minutes into the first game of the season, Sol Campbell having just been sent off and Everton on the attack, that come May 15, Gunners fans could rejoice in the knowledge that their side had achieved something unique and timeless. The 5-0 win over Leeds on that April evening will live ever long in the memory as the most content and smug I have ever felt as an Arsenal fan that was a truly perfect performance that for me encapsulated the perfect season.

5) Tony Adams. The legend, having ran his career and his life into the ground, as well as his car into a wall (not metaphorically but quite literally), experienced a renaissance with the helpful guidance of Wenger’s new regime. The Frenchman’s steady hand helped Adams to rebuild his life and in return Adams captained the side to two double successes before calling time on his fabulous Arsenal career.

6) Diet. What many football fans and players now take for granted with regards to the way to best fuel and educate the body and mind of a professional footballer was in many ways down to the former Monaco manager. He came to England with ideas that would have been baulked at back in the mid 90s, but now no self respecting club would be without a nutritionalist, club psychiatrist and a crack team of physio’s and highly trained position specific coaches.

7) Loyalty. There have been very few times, if any, when Gooners would have been worried that their boss was about to flee for pastures new. He has always been pretty honest with the club, even through the few dark days in his reign, but his loyalty is also with his players. Consistently refusing to apportion blame, even when there was an individual at fault and always true to his side as a whole, even if that does mean that he insists on being unsighted by any potential beneficial referring decision. There is nothing more satisfying and pleasing to me than hearing Wenger announcing that he was unsighted or unaware of the incident that was in question. Pure class

8) North London Derby. Ever since his arrival Arsene has been acutely aware of just how much Arsenal and Spurs hate each other. He has not only been aware of this fact but he has become indoctrinated in the rivalry ever since he led his side to a 3-1 win just six weeks into his managerial reign at the club. The boss has kept his fans happy ever since by assuring that the Red half of North London consistently hold the bragging rights, as well as higher placing in the league. Thankfully, and perhaps most importantly, in 25 derbies under his direction, only once have we had to taste defeat and on that dark day in November '99 Arsenal had the misfortune of being officiated out of the game my the headcase headmaster that is David Elleray, who decided to book half the team and send off Martin Keown and Freddie Ljungberg.

9) Thierry Henry. It’s well documented, but perhaps undervalued, just how Wenger took one of his kids from his Monaco days and decided that as fast and skillful as he was, and indeed still is, playing on the wing was not using his ability to its full potential. And 369 games and 226 goals later his decision was vindicated. It may be worth pointing out that it was Arsene who chose to play him on the left-wing in the first place so he was in effect simply changing his own mind when he reshaped Thierry’s and Arsenal’s fortunes. Good luck at Barcelona Thierry, and I genuinely mean that.

10) The Future. Even aside from the shenanigans in the boardroom and the loss of talismanic players from Vieira and Henry over recent years, things are bright at the Emirates. A fantastic new stadium is playing host to an incredible crop of talent the likes of which the Premier League and Gunners fans have not known. Arsene has years ahead of him to continue to show his managerial genius and with the signing of a new two year contract imminent, it seems that his talents will be for the benefit of the club that has given him his chance to shine, Arsenal.

Can Wenger re-shape another title for the Gunners? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.