Arsene Wenger has just won his final home game as Arsenal boss. The Gunners sent him out in style absolutely destroying a solid Burnley team that had been battling for sixth place. Feeding off such an emotional day, they pounded the Clarets 5-0. Wenger’s final set of match program notes certainly reflected the conflicting emotions of the day, and you can read those over at this link.
The 66-year-old, who won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and seven Community Shields over the course of his 22 years at the club, was sent off in style. Here’s video of the speech he gave to the crowd after the game.
Wenger began his speech by sending well wishes to his greatest rival manager, legendary Manchester United man Sir Alex Ferguson, who is recovering from brain surgery.
“I would like to wish my fellow manager Ferguson well and very quickly,” Wenger started.
“Thank you all very well for having me for such a long time. I know that’s not easy but above all I am like you. I’m an Arsenal fan. That means this is not just coaching. It’s a way of life. It is caring about the beautiful, about the values that we cherish, and as well that something that goes through all our bodies, in every cell of our bodies, we care, we worry, we are desperate but when you come here, our dreams we realize.”
“And I would like as well to thank everybody at the club who makes this club so special. And I would invite you to push these players and staff. For me this group of players has special quality, not only on the pitch but off the pitch. Please follow this team and support them next season because they deserve it.”
“I would like to finish by one simple word. I will miss you. Thank you all for being such an important of my life and hope to see you soon. Well done. Bye bye.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.