So impressive is the list of Arsenal greats that contributed to the research for the book that the publisher put a selection of those names on the front cover! As impressive as that list is, it can be no more impressive than the events that it describes. For many of us who witnessed the transformation of Arsenal under Wenger, the pace of change and the degree of success appeared to be little short of miraculous.
This is a spectacular period in Arsenal history, and its story demands to be told with an eye for detail and nuance. There's much to discuss here. Changes in personnel; changes in culture; changes in leadership style; changes in philosophy; changes in tactics; a changed idea of our football club. I have a thirst to further my understanding of all of this.
This period of the Wenger revolution elevated Arsenal's trajectory. It brought a renewed sense of modernity to the Club, and gave new reasons to be proud to say that name. This book delves into that surprisingly short, intense period of transformational change, and - through exhaustive research - amplifies the voices of many major characters to bring us closer to this complex and fascinating story.
Published by Cassell, 'Arsène Who? The Story of Wenger's 1998 Double' was published on October 12, 2023.
RELEASED on OCTOBER 12, 2023
PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION
Nobody had heard of Arsène Wenger when he took charge of Arsenal in October 1996. 'Arsène Who?' was the headline. Yet within less than two full seasons, he transformed an underperforming side into league and FA Cup winners, in the process playing with breath-taking style, sparking an epoch-defining rivalry with Alex Ferguson and Manchester United and modernising football in England with his ground-breaking methods.
Built around over 150 exclusive interviews with key players, coaches, staff and opponents, and rich in behind-the-scenes stories, personal accounts of triumph, tragedy, hilarity and heartbreak, Arsène Who? relives Arsenal's rocky road to the 1998 Double and the inception of the Wenger revolution.
It is a portrait of a collection of troubled and ageing stars who bonded with foreign newcomers to achieve immortality. It is a snapshot of a shifting cultural and sporting landscape epitomised by the Gunners' rise. And it is the tale of an unheralded mastermind who guided his team to new heights.
Arsène Who? is the inside story of how Wenger took Arsenal to the top of English football and changed the game forever.
PUBLISHER'S AUTHOR PROFILE
Ryan Baldi is a writer and author whose work is regularly featured by some of the biggest and most reputable outlets in his field, primarily the BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, The i newspaper, World Soccer magazine and FourFourTwo. He is the author of two books: The Next Big Thing: How Football’s Wonderkids Lose Their Way (Pitch Publishing, 2019) and The Dream Factory: Inside the Make-or-Break World of Football’s Academies (Polaris Publishing, 2021).
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