Arsene Wenger returns to Emirates for the first time since leaving in 2018 as Arsenal host West Ham on Boxing Day
Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is back at the Emirates for the first time since leaving the club in 2018. The 73-year-old, who is now FIFA’s head of global football development, is at the iconic stadium to watch his former team’s premiership. League Boxing Day take on West Ham United.
Wenger was in charge of the Gunners for 22 seasons. The club from North London played 1,228 games under the leadership of the legendary Frenchman. They won 711 games, drew 265 and lost 252 under him.
He also boasted a dazzling trophy cabinet, winning 17 trophies with the Gunners, including three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and seven FA Community Shield trophies.
Wenger’s greatest success at the club came during the 2003-04 season, when he led the Gunners to an unblemished Premier League winning campaign. Thierry Henry and co. they did not lose a single match that year and were dubbed ‘The Invincibles’ for their unprecedented performance. The team remains the only team in Premier League history to go an entire season without defeat.
But Arsene Wenger’s legacy goes beyond trophies and numbers. He introduced a new attacking brand of football to England that entertained fans like never before.
As well as his team’s eye-catching style, Wenger was known for relying on younger players during his time at Arsenal. He preferred to acquire lesser-known players and mold them into household names rather than buying the best players in the world.
Current Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is also cut from the same cloth. Arteta’s side have been doing wonders this season as they currently sit top of the league table with 37 points on the board from 14 matches.
