A Premier League manager is celebrating 20 years in charge of their club. Take a bow, Arsene Wenger.
That feat has only been achieved once before, in the form of Sir Alex Ferguson, and it probably won’t happen ever again.
To put Wenger’s achievements into context, the next longest serving Premier League boss is Eddie Howe having been at Bournemouth slightly less than four years.
There have been some incredible moments for Wenger during the Frenchman’s two decades in north London. He’s lifted three Premier League titles, six FA Cups and went through the entire 2003/04 campaign unbeaten.
But Wenger hasn’t lifted the title since then and their Premier League drought is beginning to turn Arsenal fans against him. While 12 years without a league triumph has angered fans, it seems as though Wenger is equally as frustrated.
That’s because, in an interview with club legend Thierry Henry for Sky Sports, Wenger has revealed one of the worst moments during his tenure at Arsenal.
Last season, it seemed the title was up for grabs for the Gunners with Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City all suffering disappointing campaigns.
But they were remarkably pipped to the big prize by Leicester City and Wenger has revealed the moment he realised they wouldn’t be ending their 12 years of hurt – declaring it the worst moment as Arsenal boss.
It happened at the home of their arch-rivals back in February when a young Marcus Rashford, making his Premier League debut, scored twice in a 3-2 victory for Manchester United, leaving Arsenal well adrift of the Foxes in their title challenge.
“One of the worst moments was last year when we lost at Manchester United,” Wenger told Henry.
“It was the moment where you felt the championship is lost. It was a game we couldn’t afford to lose and not to turn up on the day, you wonder ‘what did I do wrong there? What didn’t work?’
“It was a game we were expected to win, absolutely. We had to win it but I felt, more than losing the game, we were just not at the races on the day.”
Arsenal fans will be hoping Wenger will be even more motivated to make up for last season’s failure and go one better than their second-placed finish.
With his contract expiring at the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season, there is nothing more he would like more than to go out with a fourth league title.
However, some reports suggest that is set to be offered a new contract – something that may anger many Gooners, especially a certain Piers Morgan.
Wenger will just be hoping that when he looks back at his Arsenal career, that defeat to United last season will remain his worst moment as Arsenal boss and it isn’t eclipsed by anything that happens over the coming months or years.