Times: Why Arsene Wenger should be proud rather than cowed

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Matthew Syed: Commentary

 

It is a tragedy of apocalyptic dimensions, a human catastrophe comparable to the melting of the ice-caps and the devastation of the rainforests rolled into one. Arsenal have been knocked out of the Champions League and have all but run out of steam in the race for the Barclays Premier League title. Anyone not inclined to lament, mourn and bewail this fact is not in possession of a soul.

 

You may say that I am exaggerating, but this is about more than mere football. It is about music and poetry, aesthetics and artistry, hope and audacity. Arsène Wenger could have instructed his team to play with the dispiriting pragmatism so beloved of his rival managers, but the mercurial Frenchman was not prepared to betray his nobler ideals, even when it might have improved his club’s chances of success.

 

Arsenal’s relentless and unadulterated pursuit of beauty has itself been a thing of beauty: a daring, epic and ultimately doomed journey that has taken the English game, against all expectation, into the territory of the artistic. Wenger has done more for neutral supporters in one season — talking spiritually now, talking of our moral fabric — than an eternity of watching the spirit-sapping utilitarianism of men such as José Mourinho and Rafael Benítez.

 

Wenger’s posse of swashbuckling and tragic youngsters embraced the vision of their leader with the naive enthusiasm of foot soldiers and now they look around themselves at the ruins. But they should not despair. Liverpool, their conquerors on Tuesday night, may go on to lift the European Cup next month, yet what are trophies except meaningless baubles that moth and rust destroy? What Arsenal have achieved this season will endure far longer, if only in the hearts of those of us who have watched them.

 

Who has been inspired by Benítez’s Liverpool or Avram Grant’s Chelsea beyond the core constituencies of Merseyside and West London, who cheer out of filial loyalty and never from aesthetic appreciation? Who in their right mind could watch a Liverpool or Chelsea performance and find a wide and happy smile arriving on their surprised lips?

 

This is not an argument that is pro-Arsenal any more than it is anti-Liverpool: Arsenal under George Graham were as dull and draining as Liverpool under Bob Paisley were thrilling. No, it is about celebrating something in Wenger’s team that goes far beyond success and failure; it is about saluting a philosophy that owes as much to Sartre as it does to Rinus Michels. Wenger understands that, in this curious journey called life, there are things that matter beyond the merely functional.

 

The Frenchman and his players will be feeling something close to desolation. They woke yesterday with their hopes and dreams, which were within grasping distance a few weeks ago, in tatters. But rather than despair, they should celebrate that they have imbued football with an aesthetic meaning that it has not enjoyed since the retirement of Pelé, Carlos Alberto and Co. They are glorious, even though they have been vanquished. They are glorious, perhaps, because they have been vanquished.

 

There was a time when it looked as if the English game was doomed to be strangled by route-one football. It is visionaries such as Wenger and the evergreen Sir Alex Ferguson who have resisted this calamity. Manchester United’s attacking luminosity and Arsenal’s intricate creativity have offered an alternative vision of the sport that, it must be hoped, will be embraced by a new generation of managers and coaches.

 

Football is becoming the beautiful game again. And, for that, we must thank, above all, the incomparable Wenger.

 

click for great justice

[Bailo]

:lol:

[Gilps]

Christ on a bike

[Guest Prongsy]

I didn't read it all, I couldn't get past the sycophantic start to it, I d o have this to say...

 

 

"Ah, thanks you Liverpool. I'll tell you wha', that's made me feel soooo much better. Rubbing a little bit of salt into the wounds of Arsenal, after '89 when they hurt me, hurt our fans, hurt our club with that last minute win. I'll tell you wha', we've done it to ya's. HAVE THAT! 4-2, bye-bye Wenger. Out you go."

 

 

This is why, and it's through no fault of Arsenal themselves, I find myself biased against them. The media talks utter s*** about them.

[nrkintheuk]

Matthew Syed: Commentary

 

It is a tragedy of apocalyptic dimensions, a human catastrophe comparable to the melting of the ice-caps and the devastation of the rainforests rolled into one. Arsenal have been knocked out of the Champions League and have all but run out of steam in the race for the Barclays Premier League title. Anyone not inclined to lament, mourn and bewail this fact is not in possession of a soul.

 

You may say that I am exaggerating, but this is about more than mere football. It is about music and poetry, aesthetics and artistry, hope and audacity. Arsène Wenger could have instructed his team to play with the dispiriting pragmatism so beloved of his rival managers, but the mercurial Frenchman was not prepared to betray his nobler ideals, even when it might have improved his club’s chances of success.

 

Arsenal’s relentless and unadulterated pursuit of beauty has itself been a thing of beauty: a daring, epic and ultimately doomed journey that has taken the English game, against all expectation, into the territory of the artistic. Wenger has done more for neutral supporters in one season — talking spiritually now, talking of our moral fabric — than an eternity of watching the spirit-sapping utilitarianism of men such as José Mourinho and Rafael Benítez.

 

Wenger’s posse of swashbuckling and tragic youngsters embraced the vision of their leader with the naive enthusiasm of foot soldiers and now they look around themselves at the ruins. But they should not despair. Liverpool, their conquerors on Tuesday night, may go on to lift the European Cup next month, yet what are trophies except meaningless baubles that moth and rust destroy? What Arsenal have achieved this season will endure far longer, if only in the hearts of those of us who have watched them.

 

Who has been inspired by Benítez’s Liverpool or Avram Grant’s Chelsea beyond the core constituencies of Merseyside and West London, who cheer out of filial loyalty and never from aesthetic appreciation? Who in their right mind could watch a Liverpool or Chelsea performance and find a wide and happy smile arriving on their surprised lips?

 

This is not an argument that is pro-Arsenal any more than it is anti-Liverpool: Arsenal under George Graham were as dull and draining as Liverpool under Bob Paisley were thrilling. No, it is about celebrating something in Wenger’s team that goes far beyond success and failure; it is about saluting a philosophy that owes as much to Sartre as it does to Rinus Michels. Wenger understands that, in this curious journey called life, there are things that matter beyond the merely functional.

 

The Frenchman and his players will be feeling something close to desolation. They woke yesterday with their hopes and dreams, which were within grasping distance a few weeks ago, in tatters. But rather than despair, they should celebrate that they have imbued football with an aesthetic meaning that it has not enjoyed since the retirement of Pelé, Carlos Alberto and Co. They are glorious, even though they have been vanquished. They are glorious, perhaps, because they have been vanquished.

 

There was a time when it looked as if the English game was doomed to be strangled by route-one football. It is visionaries such as Wenger and the evergreen Sir Alex Ferguson who have resisted this calamity. Manchester United’s attacking luminosity and Arsenal’s intricate creativity have offered an alternative vision of the sport that, it must be hoped, will be embraced by a new generation of managers and coaches.

 

Football is becoming the beautiful game again. And, for that, we must thank, above all, the incomparable Wenger.

 

click for great justice

 

Matthew Syed was an (average) international ping-pong player

[MarkD]

Islington man in supporting local team in pretentious stylee!

[Hassony]

We have scored 4 goals or more in a match five times already this season in europe, and broke the champion league record by scoring 8 goals in 12 games we have scored 31 goals and conceeded 8 goals, Arsenal's record is 24-7 in the same number of matches

 

very un-inspiring indeed

[Serko]

they've score 6 more goals than us in the premier league though, a grand total of 0.18 goals per game.

[sutty]

I read that on Wednesday and almost pissed myself laughing

[Guest Prongsy]

I read that on Wednesday and almost pissed myself laughing

 

Shouldn't have wasted laughing piss, that's the best kind of piss to bottle and mail to the other with a tag saying 'I did this whilst reading your article'

Edited April 11, 2008 by Prongsy

[Gooner Spy]

Christ on a bike

What's wrong? I liked it!

[_00_deathscar]

Well the author certainly entertained - that's great comedy!

 

Whaddya mean he's serious?

[sutty]

What's wrong? I liked it!

 

 

 

I love how pretentious it is, coupled with the ridiculousness.

[Gooner Spy]

Who has been inspired by Benítez’s Liverpool or Avram Grant’s Chelsea beyond the core constituencies of Merseyside and West London, who cheer out of filial loyalty and never from aesthetic appreciation? Who in their right mind could watch a Liverpool or Chelsea performance and find a wide and happy smile arriving on their surprised lips?

Were my sentiments exactly, I just couldnt articulate it as well

 

[Guest Prongsy]

Were my sentiments exactly, I just couldnt articulate it as well

 

 

What a load b******s. Triangles in front of defenders isn't good football. We played far the better football after the first 20 minutes of the game. Better passing, better movement and more goals.

 

Did I have a wide smile on my face, yes I f***ing did. Out you go.

[Benitez]

they really need to get into ice dancing if it's artistic merit they are after. I'll stick to football.

 

I'm sure most fans would prefer to still be competing for something at this stage of the season as well.

[Raj]

Liverpool, their conquerors on Tuesday night, may go on to lift the European Cup next month, yet what are trophies except meaningless baubles that moth and rust destroy? What Arsenal have achieved this season will endure far longer, if only in the hearts of those of us who have watched them.

 

That's my favourite bit.

He makes himself look like a prize c*** with that statement.

[Gooner Spy]

Football is becoming the beautiful game again. And, for that, we must thank, above all, the incomparable Wenger

 

And so say all of us......!!!!!

[Guest RedLegend]

I though it was a pisstake when I was reading it. It's somehow even funnier knowing it isn't.

 

At one point I half expected him to go "won't someone please think of the children".

Edited April 11, 2008 by RedLegend

[Guest Prongsy]

That's my favourite bit.

He makes himself look like a prize c*** with that statement.

 

I didn't read that bit until you quoted it. That's f***ing hideous.

 

Anyone got that quote about enjoy your moral victory whilst we enjoy our actual victory...

[sutty]

And so say all of us......!!!!!

 

Here, have a nice football badge Arsene lad.

 

Whilst you're here Arsene, got a spare ticket for the champions league final in case we get through?

[Guest Prongsy]

And so say all of us......!!!!!

 

Us = idiots.

 

United play, and have consistently played, far better football. Look at how the Arsenal 2004 team played, that was real football, not that b******s you play now.

[sutty]

[Herbie von Smalls]

that article's worthy of inclusion in private eye.

 

can't figure whether it would be better in pseuds' corner, or old brown nose.

[sutty]

that article's worthy of inclusion in private eye.

 

can't figure whether it would be better in pseuds' corner, or old brown nose.

 

Is it actually serious?

 

Or is it tongue in cheek. I still can't work it out