Football: Vindication for the Wenger way

Confidence and consistency have been the key to Arsenal's triumph says Glenn Moore

IT IS LESS than 20 months ago since Arsene Wenger's electronic image peered out at the Arsenal faithful from Highbury's giant Jumbotron screens and delivered a welcome message from Japan.

His optimism, expressed in heavily accented English, seemed at odds with the chaotic reality of that night. Arsenal were already on their third manager of the season, Pat Rice following Bruce Rioch and Stewart Houston, and the sense of confusion was exacerbated by a power failure which locked up the turnstiles leaving thousands of supporters outside and eventually delaying the kick-off by 27 minutes.

However, by the evening's end the future already looked brighter. Having gone one-down to Sheffield Wednesday after 10 minutes Arsenal had won 4-1 to go within three points of the Premiership lead. The defensive foundation of the team which yesterday clinched Arsenal's 11th League title was solidly in place and one of this season's heroes, Patrick Vieira, had made his first appearance on the Highbury stage.

Vieira, signed on Wenger's instruction even before his confirmation as manager, became an instant cult hero. This bought the unknown, scholarly looking foreigner valuable time and earned a measure of respect for his judgement despite the less successful arrival of Remi Garde.

Wenger, who also endured unpleasant and unfounded allegations about his private life before winning over the press with his loquacious charm, has gone on to prove he is as good a judge of a player as anyone in the game. Doubts have been expressed about almost all of his signings, from Marc Overmars to Gilles Grimandi, but all have contributed to Arsenal's successful season. Most influential of all, however, have been the players he inherited - the goalkeeper and defence, and Dennis Bergkamp.

Wenger has not shied away from selling popular players - he risked Highbury's wrath by transferring Paul Merson - but he looked at the ageing defence and, instead of following the widespread belief that they were past it, revived their careers by giving them a freedom of expression denied under George Graham.

Bruce Rioch had begun this process but Wenger now extended it combining his expansive playing philosophy, which reinvigorated their mental approach, with the introduction of a dietary and fitness regime that did the same for their bodies.

He was helped by the change in lifestyle already being adopted by Tony Adams, the team's pivotal figure, and soon copied by Ray Parlour. With the foreign players already aware of the need to look after themselves Arsenal became a healthier club without losing the esprit de corps that has long been their hallmark.

Much of this was instilled by Graham, drawing from the example of the Double-winning team he played in. "Good players, working hard'', was one of his most cherished maxims and it is at the heart of Arsenal's triumph as it is with every successful team. Danny Wilson, whose Barnsley team lost 5-0 at Highbury and, last month, 2-0 at home to Arsenal, said: "Their willingness to work with and without the ball is why they are in the position they are in now. Although they have the ability their work-rate is very high. They have a good blend of youth and experience and are very controlled very disciplined. The young lads were criticised at first but Wenger persevered with it, he knew the ability he had. And as for that back four, I've spent 20 years trying to get through them, they are getting better and better.''

Wenger agrees, even suggesting that "the easiest thing for England would be to play them all together. Consistency is a sign of quality and to stay at this level for so long shows their quality.''

Wilson also made the point that Arsenal's confidence was very high. This, Wenger adds, has been crucial. "In football you lose confidence quickly and gain it slowly. We had to battle to get the wins at first, then it became easier. The turning point was the games after Blackburn [their last League defeat, by 3-1 at home, on 13 December] when we beat Leicester, drew at Tottenham and won against Leeds. We did not play well and only won games by a goal but the confidence came back. Without confidence even the good players cannot play well.''

While Vieira and the full-backs have arguably been Arsenal's most consistent players, and Petit finished it most strongly, the seasons enjoyed by the two leading players, Bergkamp and Adams, bear this out. Bergkamp deserved his Player of the Year accolades from both writers and players while Adams was his nearest challenger.

Said Wenger: "Bergkamp is consistent, he can score goals and make goals, that is rare. A great player is one who makes his team win, the rest is only talk. For the last two months I discovered the real Tony Adams, he is physically sharp, mentally sharp and natural leader of the team. He is a colossus.''

Then there is Wenger himself. Cool Brittania? Wenger's demeanour, if not his appearance, suggests the French remain Europe's suavest nation. "I am a little bit like the team," he said, explaining his outward calm, "I'm not especially nervous, just very concentrated.''

Since that defeat against Blackburn Arsenal have played 18 League matches, winning 15, including the last 10 in a row, and drawing three. They have scored 36 goals and conceded seven. As Alex Ferguson said, any team that puts together a run like that deserves to be champions.

They are worthy winners and their success is good for the English game. Manchester United also play their football the right way, have better discipline and more young - and old -English players, but for them to win the title three times in succession, and five years out of six, would not be healthy.

United will be Arsenal's main rivals next year. They already look stronger with the signing of Jaap Stam and there will be more to come. With both sides embroiled in the Champions' League, Chelsea, Liverpool and, perhaps, Blackburn, Leeds and Aston Villa may also be contenders.

That is in the future, the present, the championship trophy and, maybe soon, the FA Cup belong to Arsenal. Hot Stuff indeed.