Everlong, Arsène.

Credit to the people behind this photograph. 

To say that it wasn't an emotional rollercoaster over the last few days, it is definitely an understatement. On Friday, April 20, 2018, Arsene Wenger, the manager of Arsenal football club of 22 years, announced that he will be stepping down as the manager of a north London football club that I love and value by the end of the season. An announcement that caught everyone by surprise. It is a pretty sad feeling knowing that it is going to be over.

There general reception from everyone associated with Arsenal football club and beyond has been emotionally and positively fair towards a human being who built the football club and revolutionised modern football. Along with a vocal minority of still kicking an incredible human being from a verbal sense, to whom, I ask to please stop the abuse. You can still be critical of the manager but to be vindictive cruel towards another human being, is disrespectful. Enough about them, moving on.

Across the board when you listen and read the tributes towards the football professor. There’s a lot of respect towards the man. However, look closer in those tributes, the common thread, especially with his former players, he didn’t make good footballers, he made great individuals out of them. He is one of the best football coaches in the history of the sport, but more than that, he is the best mentor in the game. To who, I look up to as a father figure, more about that later.

The football that brought to the club. For that, would like the words of the man behind the appointment of the manager, David Dein to express it, “Arsene is a football purist, he’s got a lovely expression. He calls it possession with progression. He loves the passing game, and it’s a joy to watch. It is an art form.” To which I wholeheartedly agree.

When you reflect back on the legacy he built with the football club. He took a football club with a proud history, traditions, and values, and through his progressive vision took the club to another level. At this point in time, couldn’t imagine anyone else in the history of football do what he did with Arsenal. Especially during the most sensitive time period, when Arsenal moved from the Highbury stadium to the Emirates Stadium  Can’t think of anyone else with more or less the same mental skill sets to pull off what he did during that time era.

This is a photograph of a father securing the future for his family, after years of sacrifice for the people he values & loves deeply. 

Photograph credit goes to Arsenal Football Club.

To those of you, wondering why do I tremendously admire him greatly. Never uttered a vindictive word towards him. It is because, he has been a stable and consistent figure in my personal and to an extent professional life. If you ever find out about my personal life adversity and hardships. You will immensely realise how much Arsene Wenger as a human being. Against the face of adversity, the way he articulates himself positively and progressively with firm values and class. He helped me to become the person I am today. Realise that I have never met or interacted with him. But would always be grateful to him because he was one of the few only stable figures in my life. Arsene Wenger was a constant.

Imagine that, a personal tribute write up to Arsene Wenger, and I didn’t even mention the accolades that he earned it, with the teams that he built over the years. That tells you how much I admire and love this incredible human being. 

Credit to the people behind this photograph. 

Lastly. Dear Mr. Wenger, if you somehow stumble this odd Malaysian football blogging website and reading this. Just to inform you, if you happen to come to Malaysia. I would like to buy you a cup of coffee for you, sir. Along with another football purist in the country, that you may know quite well, the former Malaysia national team head coach, K. Rajagobal. Regardless if it’s tomorrow or 20 years later. Do let me know, if you are up for it, if not, it’s okay, because you have done a lot of tremendous good. Positively affecting me to do good, to be better and to be of use for this world, and in this life. For all that you have given to Arsenal football club, to football in general, and in human history. Thank you. Merci Arsene.

Kind regards,

Khalilul.