Wenger announcement overshadows game at emotional Emirates
by Steve Clare, Emirates Stadium
It was supposed to be just another London derby of the type West Ham and Arsenal regularly play. In truth, despite their proximity, the rivalry between these two clubs rarely reaches the venom and bitterness of games with Tottenham, Chelsea and in the Hammers’ case also, East London almost-neighbours Millwall.
But today was emotional.
And exactly like West Ham’s recent visit to Chelsea, the Claret and Blue fans were merely witnesses to a farewell of sorts. Previously, their visit to Chelsea had been overshadowed by the tragic death earlier in the week of Ray Wilkins. Wilkins had been a Chelsea and England legend and to their credit, the Hammers fans joined in the praise.
Today however, it was not about a man who was in any way shared among the clubs or country. Frenchman Arsene Wenger may have revolutionised English football but he revolutionised Arsenal first, leaving other clubs scrambling in its wake. In many ways, he embarrassed other clubs’ slowness on issues of diet, the booze culture and training.
The English media may have been discussing the timing of the announcement in London but the overwhelming feelings among Arsenal fans outside the Emirates on the morning of their match with West Ham was a mixture of sadness, gratitude and reflection, rather than a cold distant analysis.
Few wished he had stayed on another season but many regretted the poisonous atmosphere that had led up to his departure, especially the protests and empty seats. You could even sense on occasions a little guilt among a fanbase who had turned on a man they were now being freely admitting was the club’s greatest ever manager. When you’ve had legends like Herbert Chapman, Bertie Mee and George Graham, that is praise indeed. When you however played some part in the man’s dismissal, that’s a burden of guilt and that burden seemed to weigh heavily on some of the respondents.
Once the debate was opened as to who should replace Arsene Wenger, one thing became clear: There was no unity. Some of the fans wanted an Arsenal legend like Patrick Vieira, currently at NYCFC in the MLS, or Thierry Henry.
Others were less keen on a history of kissing the famous cannoned badge, but on having someone with more managerial experience. The international merry-go-round of managers that follows a World Cup probably means that the club may not be in a hurry to fill the seat while it is still warm.
On the day itself, Arsenal beat West Ham United 4-1 although three goals in the last eight minutes tilted that score to make the Gunners look more dominant than they actually were after a scoreless first half
Nacho Monreal opened the scoring six minutes after the interval and, as they had at Chelsea, the Hammers equalised soon after; this time through Marko Arnautovic.
West Ham’s day turned sour though in the 82nd minute when Declan Rice and Joe Hart both stood and watched an innocuous Aaron Ramsey free kick bounce bizarrely into the net. Thereafter Alex Lacazette added two late goals to give the scoreline a lopsided feel.
Arsenal
