On This Day – 1st October
‘Arsene Who?’ read one of the headlines when Arsene Wenger was announced as the new Arsenal manager on this day back in 1996.
The unknown Frenchman had been brought in from Japanese side Grampus Eight to replace Bruce Rioch who had left the club weeks before the start of the 1996/97 season.
The Arsenal board had already been made aware of Wenger a couple of years before after a chance encounter between Wenger and David Dein at a match. Both men spoke at length about football and Dein was suitably impressed. The story goes that Wenger was earmarked to come to the club instead of Rioch in 1995 but he had already signed a contract with Grampus Eight and wanted to honour that.
Wenger’s arrival eight weeks into the start of the season was due to him wanting to see out his time in Japan. He didn’t want to let his employers down and stayed until the last day of his contract.
The Frenchman guided Arsenal to a League and Cup Double in his first full season at the club. He treated Arsenal fans to exciting, beautiful football and many trophies along the way. He also put together the ‘Invincibles’ team that went the entire 2003/04 season unbeaten and was instrumental in the club’s move from Highbury to the new Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Arsene Wenger came to Arsenal as an unknown but left the club as a legend.
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