Arsene Wenger: The Second Coming of Herbert Chapman?
Do you believe?
Well with the “interlull” firmly upon us and just coming off the Arsene love-fest from last week, it’s time to take a look at our longest serving manager and see how he stacks up against the man who guided the club through one of its best era’s of Football.
In 1925 Arsenal had just sacked manager Leslie Knighton and chairman Sir Henry Norris was looking for a replacement. Norris placed an adver in the Athletic news looking for a new manager:
“Whose sole ability to build up a good side depends on the payment of heavy and exhorbitant [sic] transfer fees need not apply.”
Arsenal were not an attractive side to go to that year as they had been fighting off relegationa and with the restriction on transfer fees it was unlikely that top talent would take the job. Meanwhile Huddersfiled Town manager Herbert Chapman was enjoying the fruits of his labour when his side won the league for the 3rd succcesive time. The last season they won, saw the club never allow more than 2 goals in a match. Even with such success the allure of the London crowds and double wages – £2,000, Herbert Chapman left Huddersfiled Town to take on the mantle at Arsenal.
Chapman’s effect on the club was immediate. He signed 34 year old Charlie Buchan, Sunderland’s leading scorer and made him Captain. Together the two of them changed how Arsenal would work on the field – in part because of the new rules on offsides – reducing the number of opposition players from three to two. The formation affectionately known as the “WM” for its alignment of players on the field is really a 3-4-3 that saw the inside forwards to the midfield.
In itself that wasn’t really revolutionary as many teams had done this. In fact quite a few teams employed the scheme against Arsenal at one point, notably Newcastle United in a 7-0 win. What was revolutionary was Chapman’s reliance on counter-attacking football, with pacy wingers and a strong defence.
An FA Cup win was to bring in an era of unprecedented success for the club having the clubs eventually win 5 league titles. But it wasn’t just a change in formation that propelled the club forward.
The key was a perfected the ruthless, counter-attacking football. Up front, he employed a front line supported by deep-lying inside forwards, filling the gap vacated by the movement of the centre half into defence. Chapman employed a pair of pacy wingers who could cut inside instead of hugging the touchline this way they could either shoot for goal themselves or pick each other out if the centre forward was marked out of the game. Keeping and dwelling on the ball and individuality were discouraged in favour of a quick passing game.
“Chapman was also equally committed to a strong defence, saying maintaining a back line was “the rock bottom of football.” Arsenal’s defence were told to play deep and with the support of the wing halves, fall back into their own when the opposition had the ball; this allowed the opposition plenty of possession in Arsenal’s half, until they reached the 18-yard line and faced a massed defence. Once Arsenal regained the ball the ball would be quickly passed forward and the wing halves would push up to support the attackers, meaning Arsenal could quickly commit as many as seven men forward as a unit to rapidly attack and score.” – direct from Wikipedia
Chapman strongly emphasised the fitness of his players. Chapman’s use of fast, counter-attacking passing football was in direct conflict with how contrasted with how the game was being played in the day. The game had an emphasis on dribbling and possession. It was during this time that the lovely phrase – “Boring Arsenal” was born. However, much to their detractors, they scored 127 league goals. They missed the league record by one goal.
Move forward to 1996. An unknown frenchman who had been managing a Japanese side is offered to take the club over form a recently sacked Bruce Ricoh. The signing is met with perplexion as it is the clubs first manager from outside the UK. His signing is met with headlines like “Arsene Who” from the Guardian. But much like Chapman, new manager Arsene Wenger brings in two players immediately, Patrick Viera and Remi Garde. The club goes on to place third in his first season missing Champion’s League qualification by goal differential.
In his second season Arsenal go on to win the Premier League and FA Cup. The key was a blend of an inherited defence and key Arsene Wenger signings. During his tenure Arsenal would win the double again in 2001-2002. The team would win the League one more time in 2003-2004 – the era of the “Invincibles” – without a single loss. In between the first wins in 1996 the club would win the FA Cup again in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
Arsene’s first major changes were much like his managerial ancestor. He immediately reformed the clubs dietary and training regimes. In addition to the training, Arsene also changed how the club played on the pitch. Prior to his arrival, Arsenal were known as defencive, boring club. They were hated and despised notorious for their negativity and aggressiveness.
What the unknown frenchman brought to Arsenal was a brand of football that was anti-English. Arsenal’s new philsophy centred on slowly building up the ball from the back and passing the ball in short, quick one-touch passes. It’s exquisite when it works, frustrating when it leads to nothing more than missed chances.
Former England coach Don Howe, and now Arsenal scout:
“For Arsene, it is technique over everything. He wants to know what a player?s touch, control and vision is like. Without that, they can forget it, it is his No.1 quality.”
Arsenal’s squads are now always cited for their technical ability and the “beauty” of their playing and while the silverware has been barren in the last 4 years – when Arsene’s system is working – there are few clubs they can’t stand toe to toe with.
While both men were of different times. Chapman and Wenger altered drastically how the club played and was perceived. Chapman didn’t live long enough to see the full fruits of his success. Arsene, he may be a victim of his own success. Chapman may have had more of a focus on defence but they both understood the need to be pacy and play attacking football. They also understood that youth was necessary to the long term success of the club and both had similar financial constraints they had to work within.
There are only two busts in the Emirates and its of these two club icons. So far apart in time but so close in the need to make changes in order for the club to be winners.
Editor’s note: Most of the information for this article is (especially on Chapman) came from Wikipedia.
