In 2008, I was asked to write an article on the subject of captaincy, in the wake of William Gallas losing the armband at Arsenal. The move was prompted by the publication of an interview Gallas had given to the Associated Press, in which he claimed that his team were "not brave enough," needed more "soldiers" and were fighting amongst themselves.
Gallas had been a divisive figure during his tenure, and his infamous sit-down protest on the pitch at St Andrews was still fresh in the memory when, on reading those comments, Arsene Wenger felt compelled to remove the Frenchman from his position, after less than eighteen months in the role.
At the time, Wenger said this, on the subject of captaincy:
“I don't believe too much in leadership… I believe more in good passing than a guy who jumps around with the hands in the air and plays the leader.”
Three days later, Cesc Fabregas was appointed as Arsenal captain.
There is a school of thought that says you should make your best player you captain; a player who leads by example, the sheer quality of their play inspiring their team-mates to greater heights. There are obvious benefits, not least that you bind that player even tighter to the club, which can help ward off potential suitors. But, at the time, I argued that what the Arsenal first team desperately needed were more traditional "leaders": dogged competitors with a winning mentality, in mould of a John Terry or, more pertinently, a Tony Adams, the inspirational Arsenal captain Wenger inherited when he arrived at the club.
The argument that this Arsenal side lack backbone, and are mentally frail, is at least three years old. He may have been wrong to say it, in the way that he said it, but I believe that, ultimately, William Gallas was right.
As Arsenal's season has collapsed in a cascade of disappointing draws and defeats, Wenger has cut an increasingly lonely figure on the touchline: pacing, skinny-limbed; his face pinched into a permanent frown; complaining vociferously - and often without foundation - about perceived injustices. He has also been increasingly chippy with the press, stating his belief that both he and his team have been subjected to sustained and unwarranted criticism.
Wenger clearly feels victimised. But the irony is that it is precisely because he is held in such high regard, that he is the subject of such persistent and repetitive criticism: he is a couple of leaders away from a great side; a centre back away from a great side; a goalkeeper with presence; a midfielder with bite. Three or four players of proven quality are required, with the experience to help solidify what has the potential to be a great team. We've all been saying it: fans, players, pundits, the press. If only he would open his cheque book.
I believe that most neutral fans - on some level, at least - want Wenger's Arsenal to succeed: they play football the way the vast majority of us think it should be played. We can see Wenger's faults - he is dogmatic, stubborn - but we hold the belief that if he would just compromise - for one transfer window, for one summer - if he would just go out and spend, then surely the trophies would come. But as each year has gone by, Wenger has dug his heels in ever deeper, determined to prove us all wrong.
Arsenal fans are clearly losing patience with their legendary manager. Defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final was the last straw for many. For others it has been the implosion of their challenge for the Premier League, in a season where their rivals have stuttered and the title was there for the taking. Rumours have surfaced that Wenger will walk away, that Real Madrid will come calling if Mourinho leaves the Bernabeu at the end of the season. Some have even started calling for him (whisper it) to quit.
But now, there are signs that the previously unshakable faith Wenger has shown in his footballing philosophy could, indeed, be waning. Contrast his comments, following Arsenal's defeat at Bolton yesterday, with the quote from three years ago:
"It's very unsatisfactory... we didn't take our chances. That is frustrating because I feel the potential is there but we still lack something: maturity and experience and calm in important situations."
Alleluia.
Perhaps this will be enough to persuade those doubters who, like Morgan, have descended into a fug of despondency in recent weeks. The truth is, we won't know if Wenger really has seen the light until the transfer window shuts at the end of the summer.
