Arsène Wenger: Invincible

A fascinating film about the legendary Arsenal manager, and my respect for him only increased after watching.

It perhaps would have been nice to have had more time dedicated to things like the relief he felt after that famous 2014 FA Cup win, or the pain of the 2006 Champions League Final defeat, that really heralded the break-up of the Invincibles team.

On the whole a lovely film though, and we'll be lucky to ever have a manager of his ilk again.

The guy who changed everything. For all the money in the English game today, the achievement remains unmatched. But more than this, a true football man who played the game in the right way and conducted himself with dignity, loyalty and class. An absolute classy gentleman and legend! Always was ahead of the game in his prime years as manager and changed the dynamic of the English game we all love. The invincible achievement...absolutely remarkable still to this very day, football from heaven and an absolute privilege to have witnessed!

Mostly uses footage from old season reviews with new interviews, no controversy moments really just a standard, this is how it was to what Wenger is doing now.

For a third generation Arsenal fan like myself, this is a soul lifting shot of liquid nostalgia; for anyone like me it's essential viewing, for those with an interest in English football beyond the strictly partisan it's similarly worthwhile. It's beautifully put together, and the format allows a more critical appraisal of Wenger than his own book; there's a nuance here that the book lacks. The final minutes of the film are unquestionably moving. What is strange is the scant attention given to Arsenal's trip to a Champions' League final. That aside, it's a great watch and captures much that's true about this uniquely focussed and influential football man.

This is one of those docs that you keep the rivalries aside for and watch it for Arsène and the work he's done at Arsenal.

If you watch football, you should watch this - but it doesn't really have anything you already may not know. It's well made and offers some perspective from other legends on Arsenal's glory days under Wenger and the downfall after moving out of Highbury.

I did feel like there was something missing though. I thought Balon's doc on The Invincibles had SO MUCH more content. This doc was supposed to be that and then some more because this is about Arsene and The Invincibles are only a part of this journey. The doc really kicks off about halfway in, after his declaration to go undefeated but until then, I thought they missed the opportunity to say so much more about him and his journey prior to ARS. They do touch upon it but I thought there would be more. Compare this against Fergie doc with content prior to the treble, the storytelling was so much better.

But, regardless, by the end of the doc, you leave with more respect for the man and some life lessons for folks to takeaway. Respect and credit where it's due!