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Opinions of Monday, 4 September 2017

Columnist: Nii Aponsah Ankrah

Leave now Arsene, its for your own good!

Arsene Wenger Arsene Wenger

Arsene Who? That was the headline that covered the London Evening Standard on October 1, 1996 after Arsenal signed Arsene Wenger. Now it’s Wenger Out everywhere you go.

A relative unknown upon his arrival on British shores, despite his successes with Monaco in previous stints. His arrival though heralded a change in the British approach to football. He brought along with him, a fresh and attractive brand of football that condemned the tag of ‘Boring, Boring Arsenal' to the past.

Also with him, came a recruitment policy that involved an awareness of the untapped markets throughout Europe (especially France). A transformation in player fitness and maximizing potential while playing football sent from the Gods was his niche and nobody could do it better than Le Professeur. He was the wind of change that Arsenal and English football needed and very soon everyone was following suit.

Wenger also brought success on the pitch with the Gunners with four FA Premier League trophies, four FA Cup wins and four Community Shield wins with a double in the 1997-98 season and the Invincibles tag in the 2004 after going a season unbeaten in the League. A golden period no doubt for Wenger and Arsenal. He was miles ahead of everyone and just like the hare in Aesop's fable , ' The Tortoise and the Hare', Le Prof slowed down, took a sort of a break and everyone caught up with him and most of them even got better than him. A sign of things to come. A sign that he should leave while things were rosy.

Since 2004, the Gunners adopted a mediocre approach of some sort as they became content with successive fourth place finishes and eliminations at the Round of 16 in the Champions League. The old magic was still there as he has been able to unearth talents across Europe but they have all come to naught. They had their best chance of winning the Premier League but the seemingly fragile mentality that Wenger hid for so long was transferred to his players and allowed Leicester City to surprise us all and claim the League.

The last few years has seen Arsenal become the laughingstock of England and Wenger is the clown that leads this band of weak and spineless bunch. It is safe to say the times caught up with him and his stubbornness from a tactical viewpoint and a somewhat delayed reaction in transfers is of his own doing and its time he left while he still has some dignity left.

Time has never been anyone's friend as it has a way of making people forget your best while focusing on your worst. Wenger had the chance to escape this fate but chose to face time for another two years but only weeks into the new season, it appears he's still the same old 'once-good-but now-mediocre' legend who would prefer to lose it all than quit while he has something to hold on to.

Arsene Wenger is by far been the greatest manager in the history of Arsenal and deserves to be remembered for his successes.. so long as he leaves now! Despite the pettiness of time, it will still give you a choice to define who you are and what you'll be remembered for.

Over to you Le Professeur.