WENGER MOMENTS 20 YEARS AT ARSENAL

WENGER'S SURPRISE APPOINTMENT
In September 1996 Arsenal's surprise
appointment of Arsene Wenger was greeted
with bemusement by the English media with
'Arsene who?' the question on newspaper front
pages.
Having last managed in Japan, Wenger was
unknown to most football fans but made an
instant impact, changing the dietary patterns
and training methods at Highbury.
They would go on to win the double in his first
full season the following year.
'They are the scrappers who rely on
belligerence – we are the better team,' is how.
BEATING FURGIE'S MIND GAMES
Ferguson described Arsenal's 2002 double-
winning season during a long-running feud
between the two managers.
However in the ultimate response Wenger
simply said: 'Everyone thinks they have the
prettiest wife at home', forcing Ferguson to
retract his comments.

MOVE FROM HIGHBURY
Demonstrating his influence at the club, Wenger
was a key figure in Arsenal's move from
Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006 which
he described as 'the biggest decision in
Arsenal's history.'
Wenger turned down offers from the world's
biggest clubs and by staying as manager,
despite huge stadium costs, he confirmed
himself as a huge part of Arsenal's past,
present and future.

WENGER THE FA KING
Wenger won his second successive FA Cup
when his side thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 at
Wembley in 2015.
In doing so Wenger became the joint-most
successful FA Cup manager ever along with
George Ramsey, who managed Aston Villa
around the turn of the 20th Century, with six
wins.
Wenger said in response to criticism earlier this
year: 'Do you know someone who has won the
FA Cup more than me? There's your answer.'
LAST DAY AT HIGHBURY
In perhaps the most dramatic of all Arsenal-
Tottenham battles for fourth, Wenger's side
overtook Spurs on their last-ever game at
Highbury in May 2006.
Henry fittingly scored a hat-trick for the
Gunners, who came from behind to beat Wigan
4-2 on a memorable day for Wenger.
But the day was infamous for the lasagne-
induced food poisoning Spurs players suffered
the night before as their beleaguered team lost
2-1 against West Ham.
ARSENAL TROPHY DROUGHT ENDS
Wenger finally ended his nine-year trophy
drought in the most dramatic fashion in the
2014 FA Cup Final.
After years of near-misses and an embarrassing
League Cup final defeat to Birmingham City in
2011, Arsenal fans despaired after going two
down early on against Hull City.
But the Gunners staged a remarkable
comeback, capped off by Aaron Ramsey's extra-
time winner, to relieve nine years of huge
pressure on their manager.
WENGER BECOMES INVINCIBLE
By 2004 Wenger had built an imperious team
featuring Patrick Vieira, Campbell, Pires and
Henry that stormed to the title without a single
defeat.
The last game of the season saw them fall 1-0
behind against Leicester City but in the spirit
that came to typify their performances that
season they roared back to win 2-1 and
complete their unbeaten campaign. They were
the first team since Preston North End in
1888-89 to do so.
As Wenger said: 'I always had that dream and
to fulfil it is marvellous'.