Arsenal defeated Burnley 5-0 in Wenger's last game at the Emirates.GETTY IMAGES
Arsène Wenger "was given a fitting farewell from fans and players after his last game in charge at the Emirates as Arsenal manager," according to SKY SPORTS. Tributes were paid to the outgoing Frenchman throughout Sunday's Premier League 5-0 defeat of Burnley, "starting with an appreciative guard of honour from both sets of players and ending with speeches and presentations on the pitch." Queues outside the club's The Armoury Store grew ahead of kickoff as fans "stood in line to sign a book with farewell messages for the 68-year-old." Shirts inside the club store also displayed messages from the current squad. A message from midfielder Granit Xhaka read, "A dream come true to play for you." Jack Wilshere wrote, "Like a father through tough times in my career." Wenger "emerged shyly from the tunnel into the north London sunshine before waving to the capacity crowd" as Gunners fans "sang his name for one of the final times during his 22-year tenure." Chants of "There's only one Arsène Wenger" and "Arsène, give us a wave" rang from the stands at regular intervals, while the majority of the 59,549 in attendance "donned red t-shirts handed out by the club" with the message "Merci Arsène" (SKY SPORTS, 5/6). In London, James Benge reported the 68-year-old "had hoped to eschew an emotional send off from Arsenal, but was never going to get his wish" and was greeted by the Emirates Stadium for the final time with a vocal chant of "One Arsène Wenger" as he made his way onto the pitch. The Emirates Stadium was wrapped in a giant "Merci Arsène" banner, while current players "had left tributes for him on the back of their replica shirts in the club shop." Notably, Arsenal Majority Shareholder Stan Kroenke attended the match, his first appearance since the FA Cup Final win over Chelsea last May (EVENING STANDARD, 5/6).
PARTING SHOT: In London, Jack Austin reported Wenger used his final program notes to "reveal what he will miss most." He said, "What I will miss most about this job is the competition itself. The collective feeling, the sharing of emotions with people you work with on a daily basis, the desire to feel something together and the target you always have in front of you. I will miss the intensity of it all, because that’s all I have known in my life" (INDEPENDENT, 5/6). THE SPORTS BANK reported Wenger began his speech to the crowd by "sending well wishes to his greatest rival manager," former ManU boss Alex Ferguson, who is recovering from brain surgery. Wenger: "I would like to wish my fellow manager Ferguson well and very quickly. 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." He concluded by saying, "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" (THE SPORTS BANK, 5/6). A link to a video of Wenger's speech is available here.
