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.

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.

We all know the football stuff; the way Arsene changed the game, won the double, the Ferguson rivalry, the unbeaten campaign, move to the Emirates, and, despite calling his last 10 years a failure still qualifying for Champions League 9 of those years (!)......

That aside, this is a well-made film, looks good and feels good. Fantastic cast of important people, excellent footage and a perfect homage to Arsenal's most successful and important manager.

Nicely done.

Tough watch for me this was, being am Arsenal Season Ticket holder for 38 years and counting.

I was very surprised that the Champions League Final was not mentioned.

Lots of Great memories come flooding back of Highbury and bad memories of the 99 Semi-Final I was there.

The shots of him in the tunnel before the Burnley game was of him looking pretty angry, he blames US the fans for wanting him out.

But what he said is the truth "Arsenal lost their SOUL when they left Highbury.

He won't go back to the Emirates as their are no happy memories, Highbury was the love of his life as it was for all of us.

I was pleased to see Sir Alex having a lot to say, and was surprised when he said "that going a whole season unbeaten" was bigger then anything he had done, Really the Treble?

But was great to see the Respect he has for Arsene and he blames us the fans for getting rid of him. Sorry Sir Alex but in 2014 we had Klopp lined up, but Wenger would not leave. We should not have given him a new contract.

It's strange to watch Arsenal and Man U Rule English football, now look at us. Man U starting yet again after sacking Ole, Fergie left Man U in 2013 that's 8 years ago, and Wenger left in 2018.

It's not easy to replace 2 of the Greatest Managers that ever lived.

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.