We were never at the very top of European football. We made one CL final in Wengers time and lost. Outside of that we never managed a sustained run in Europe. Our best teams (02-05) were complete failures in Europe.
We were a big club who played great football and had great players but our lack of European pedigree really harms our standing historically as one of the clubs at the very top of European football
I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned it, but our CL results from 02-05 does my fucking head in with the teams we had.
To be fair Wenger played a great Atleti team off the park and would of won the Europa if not for wayward finishing and a terrible individual piece of play from Kos to gift them the away goal.
TBF we’re comparing the Champions League with all the best players in it to the Cup Winners Cup who’s best team was the 5th best team in Italy. A fair bit harder to win the CL
Regarded as the League cup of the European competitions wasn’t it? Not to knock us winning it of course.
But Wenger couldn’t beat a weak Galatasaray side to win the less superior European trophy 
He’s had his chances
Hehehe. Here you go again. Schmeichel is reported to have cost 505000 GBP. Seaman 1.3 million.
Yeah agree with that regarding 17/18.
Still it’s only the Europa League though and doesn’t change the fact we went our 2nd group phrase, 2 group phrase, QF and Rd 16 between 02-05 when we were a top 5 team in Europe talent wise.
Yeah I was too young to follow it properly during that period, I won’t defend that. Most of the exits from the 2009-17 period were to super clubs with far more talent. Marseille aside of course. Which again was complete anomaly as we should have scored 4 or 5 times in the home game. Marseille 1st leg and the Atleti 1st leg were unbelievable.
Thought it was 3mil.
Must have confused him for the fee they signed Keane for
Agree aside from Monaco in 14/15 we went out to teams that had superior talent, Maybe Milan 11/12 was relatively close talent wise.
In that 09-17 period you talk about.
PSV 06-07 was also a poor exit, 07/08 vs Liverpool we were fucking robbed I don’t really want to talk about it.
UEFA was usually harder to win the Cup Winners mate. Even Chelsea won the Cup Winners before they even existed.
But yea he should of done it that year and in 2006
UEFA was based on league positions, CWC was based on whoever won the Cup (which meant the likes of Sunderland, Wimbledon and Coventry City got a stab at it)
But I suppose the league cup of Europe is harsh, given that we beat the likes of Napoli boasting Fonseca, PSG with Rai en route to the final.
Wenger playing Henry was akin to Arteta playing Partey in the NLD.
Disgraceful
Would of done if it wasn’t for Heysel and other English hooliganism. As that incident wasn’t isolated.
Yeah think he was out for the rest of the season after that. Then ended up moving to Barca
Although he brought different qualities to Wenger I’m not sure I would rate him a less good manager based on his contribution to our trophy cabinet, what he started with, the squad he left behind for his successors and time in post. Wenger was brilliant for us in his last early years but also helped a lot by the George Graham defence.
In their prime with us both were outstanding managers and I think you’d have to ask top players who played under both who was the best to see if there was a clear winner. I wouldn’t like to call it either way otherwise.
The big blots were his final seasons where league performances poor and the bung scandal.
Took one free kick and tore his groin and stomach muscles.
This is actually a very good point, I watched the class of 92 pick their top premier league sides the other day, and all of our back 4 plus keeper were either in or in contention to be in the team. Guess we forget what a solid foundation that was for Wenger to build on.
Also would like to add that even though it’s become cliche but the 89 league win at Anfield away to Liverpool IS still up there as one of the greatest moments in the history of English football.
I never saw prime Tony Adams, comparing say John Terry and Tony Adams who was better for Eg ?
I only saw the last 3-4 years of Adams career, hence the question.