Terry Venables : I was wrong to say Arsene Wenger had to quit

Two years ago I thought Wenger had to quit Arsenal.. How very wrong I was

ON TOP OF HIS JOB ... Wenger with Podolski

TERRY VENABLES

IT was only two or three years ago I felt Arsene Wenger had lost his way.

It happens to every manager at some point — especially those who have been in the same job for so long.
The only feasible solution seemed for him to leave Arsenal. I thought that would probably be best for both parties.
It turns out I may have been a bit hasty. To paraphrase Mark Twain after he read his own obituary in the New York Times: Reports of Wenger’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated.
The Frenchman has rediscovered his mojo and, as a consequence, so have Arsenal.
The unbeaten Gunners sit third in the Premier League after two wins and two draws in their opening four top-flight matches, having conceded just one goal.
They are also up and running in the Champions League, after kicking off their group stage with an impressive 2-1 win at French champions Montpellier.
The club’s excellent start to the season, a stark contrast to 12 months ago, is a triumph for patience and a lesson for those chairmen and owners out there with itchy trigger fingers when it comes to hiring and firing.
I do not know of any club that would have kept faith with Wenger through his dark times, after seven years without silverware.
It is not an easy thing for a club to do, especially when the trophy cabinet remains unopened.
In any other job he would have been out of the door a while ago.
But the Arsenal board chose the difficult option by sticking with their man and now their loyalty and support are being rewarded.
You have to give them credit for that.
You also have to take your hat off to Wenger for putting his well-renowned prudence to one side and splashing the cash to reorganise his squad with new additions following the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United.
Gooners everywhere feared the worst after losing their captain, best player, top-scorer and team focal point.
There is no doubt the Dutchman has the ability to improve any team in the world, as he is already showing at Old Trafford.
Many feared Arsenal would not be able to cope without their talisman. But they are going along very nicely, thank you.
That is because his former team-mates, forced to live in his shadow for so long, are now enjoying their moments in the sun.
Being labelled a one-man team is never good for camaraderie. It leaves the rest of the dressing room feeling undervalued and underwhelmed.
It is so often the case that when a team loses the star it relied on the most, the remaining players find an extra 10 per cent from somewhere.
We saw it when Thierry Henry left Arsenal. Now we are seeing it again with Van Persie.
It means the Gunners have not been affected by his exit as much as some thought they might be.
That is also because Wenger uncharacteristically spent £45million on new signings in the last transfer window.
Wenger realised he needed to strengthen his squad and his new buys have settled in well.
Striker Lukas Podolski has wasted no time getting off the mark, notching three goals in his first five games. And it will surely not be long before fellow frontman Olivier Giroud opens his account for the club.
But Wenger’s stellar signing of the summer has to be Santi Cazorla, who looks a steal at £15m.
At 5ft 6ins the silky-skilled Spaniard is most definitely a player in the Arsenal mould.
And with his fellow countryman Mikel Arteta alongside him, the Gunners midfield is as strong and creative as it has been for some time.
The new arrivals seem to have given everybody at the club a lift.
Their goalkeeping worries of the recent past have disappeared, with Vito Mannone at last proving an able deputy to first-choice Wojciech Szczesny.
At the back, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker have clearly learned from their mistakes of the past.
In Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain they have a sensational teenage footballer who is a born winner.
And then they have Theo Walcott, whose uncertainty over his future could work in Arsenal’s favour.
The England star’s current deal runs out at the end of the season. What will happen then is still unclear.
Regardless of whether he wants to stay or go, though, he needs to play well to impress either his current employer or his next one.
There is no doubt Walcott is talented but there are still areas of his game he needs to develop.
Like most speedy stars he can be erratic. Yet there is no point being quick if you do not take the ball with you.
I also feel he has not quite learned the tricks of the trade required when he has his back to goal.
I have heard it said Wenger’s best signing of the summer is Steve Bould.
The former defender appears to have made an impact since being promoted to No 2 following Pat Rice’s retirement.
Just two goals conceded in their opening five games is an excellent defensive return.
Their backline will face their sternest test at Manchester City tomorrow.
But Arsenal will go there with merited optimism after the way City played in their 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid.
Roberto Mancini’s men defended far too deep. I do not know why they were unable to defend as they normally do.
They were too slugglish getting out to their 18-yard line and, as a result, there were holes throughout.
They tried to defend their goal instead of the ball.
If they do that again tomorrow, Arsenal and their new signings could have a field day.

Credit : Terry Venables

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