I’m a newer fan who only started watching the club over the past 2 seasons. I’ve been trying to learn the history of the club, and I’m confused why there was hate for Wenger at the end of his career. I learned that he lead the invincible’s, and that amazing squad from the early 2000s, he gave us the only champions league final appearance in club history, and even after that he seem to do an amazing job. Heck he even got a new Stadium that is really nice. He seemed to be loved. By all accounts he should be a Saint to the gooners but then I look forward a few years, and they were all these Wenger out protests. What led to such a fall from grace.
Why was there hate over Wenger, well it’s kinda like the #ArtetaOut people with the keeper situation.
Difference is when Arsene came into the league foreign managers were not common, you can argue Arsenal/Arsene created that wave.
He came in unknown, the press loved him and loved to hate him.
Wenger basically pulled a Babe Ruthe and said Arsenal could go undefeated in a season then they did it.
Arsenal won some doubles, won the league then made it to a Champions League final and were robbed by corruption. They loose to Barcelona than the Barca wave in Europe starts, we loose Titi to Barcelona then move into a new stadium.
A new cycle starts defined by the stadium debt servicing and Arsene cannot buy players or extend contracts outside of the financial agreements the club signed off on for the loans.
Arsenal gradually and slowly became less competitive in Europe and domestically. The club was in decline a managed decline on the pitch and Arsene carried the blame.
That’s why fans wanted him out, IMO.
For me it was a shameful time, I’m glad to see that statue for Arsene. If Saka is like our son, Arsene is like our Dad.
When you see stuff like AFTV today remember they lost total respect in the streets because they pumped up the Wenger Out movement for clicks.