Eleven years after Thierry Henry, a new Frenchman had the right to his memory in front of the forecourt of the Emirates Stadium. This Saturday, Arsenal presented on its social networks the new bronze statue 3.5 m high, which will now welcome visitors to its stadium, in the likeness of its former coach: Arsène Wenger. The Alsatian, who will have occupied the bench of the Gunners for twenty-two years, is represented smiling in the process of brandishing the Premier League trophy.
Wenger has indeed won the title of champion of England three times during his stay in London: in 1998, 2002, and 2004, during the season of the “Invincibles”, without losing a single match. The Frenchman also brought the club seven FA Cups and seven Community Shields. What earned him this supreme honor, at the age of 73, five years after his departure from the club.
Guest of honor for the next game
Placed at the level of the North Stand of the stadium, his statue joins that of Henry, Tony Adams and Dennis Bergkamp, as many players as Wenger had under his orders, as well as those of former general manager Ken Friar and manager Herbert Chapman . To inaugurate it, Wenger will be the guest of honor at the Emirates Cup next Wednesday. A friendly match in which Arsenal will face AS Monaco, which the coach also managed for seven years.
“We are delighted to recognize and celebrate Arsene Wenger’s exceptional leadership and career at Arsenal Football Club,” said Tim Lewis, Vice-Chairman of the club. Arsène’s contribution and accomplishments with the club make him the greatest manager in its history. He has gifted the club and its supporters with many trophies and fantastic memories and brought about a revolution in management, an unbeaten season and the move to Emirates Stadium”.
