Arsenal: Ljunberg Comments Show Wenger’s Humanity

Arsenal’s fearless leader, Arsene Wenger, is too often criticized, but Freddie Ljunberg has revealed a bit of the humanity that should endear him to fans a bit more.

Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that people are human. But it does even more when you’re reminded that these ‘humans’ that make gobs of money and are often accused of being egotistical and selfish are actually classy individuals that promote the furthering of class at a classy outfit like Arsenal.

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That’s a lot of class. And yes, I am of course referring to Arsene Wenger.

It’s been along time since Wenger brought home any serious silverware, and there is no trophy for being classy, but there is a certain benefit you can draw from it. I mentioned it some time ago with the stern realization that Arsenal will never have to deal with a classless leader like Jose Mourinho.

There are downfalls, obviously. Mourinho is a trophy collector, but he builds no legacy, has no class and rarely ever shows any dose of humanity. Some may say they’d prefer the trophies, but I’d say there are benefits to both.

When it comes to Arsene Wenger, Invincible winger Freddie Ljunberg has had his say on what exactly this Arsenal paragon is all about.

"“Arsene has helped grow the brand of the club around the world because of the way we play football and I think a lot of people enjoy watching. Personally, I hope he stays for a long, long time and wins a lot of trophies.”"

Fans may have ire built up over Wenger’s stubbornness in the transfer market, but few know him better than the men that played for him. While not every instance is the same, playing under Wenger when he was at the pinnacle of his success has to say more about him than anything else. Ljunberg went on:

"“Arsene is, in my opinion, a great man and very respectful. I came there as a young boy and I came out of there as a man. He taught me values and how to behave – that everyone has equal value. We shake hands with the cleaners, the receptionists, every day – that’s what the club is about and Arsene is a big part of that.”"

Well said. It’s one thing to just use a player for your own personal gain, but Wenger isn’t about that. He is in it for the players, to promote their growth and their careers. We have heard similar things nowadays as well, with Gabriel referring to Wenger as a ‘father figure’ for him when he made the journey to England, where he didn’t even speak the language.

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There’s a reason why Arsenal attracts so many players, even now when trophies aren’t flowing. Guys know what they are going to get out of playing at Arsenal. They are going to get a willing teacher who is there for them and wants to see them succeed. He won’t leave someone behind just because they’ve been hurt or fallen out of favor (unless you’re Joel Campbell, which I still don’t understand).

That’s why Alexis and Ozil came here and that is why Xhaka came here. They understand that the learning process at Arsenal is unique and immensely beneficial to their own individual growth.

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These statements couldn’t have come at a better time. I doubt they’ll do much to restore the “Wenger Out” crowd’s faith in Le Prof, but for those who are still on the fence or who still retain faith in him, these are refreshing words.