Arsène & Arsenal: The Quest to Rediscover Past Glories

by Alex Fynn

In this long awaited sequel to the best-selling Arsenal - The Making of Modern Superclub (first published in 2008 with new editions in 2009 and 2011) Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher examine the current state of Arsenal FC and their performance on and off the pitch since 2011.

Has head coach Arsene Wenger become a 'Specialist in Failure' (an accusation levelled at him by Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho) or does he oversee one of the best run clubs in world football?
Critics of Wenger cite his failure to replace key players, to adapt to the modern transfer market and an over-reliance on inexperienced players as reasons to doubt the Frenchman, while supporters point to the fact that Arsenal have qualified for the riches of the Champions League (Europe's most prestigious tournament) for 18 years in a row with a team that always plays attractive, attacking football as reasons to believe that the 2014 FA Cup is just won of many trophies still to be won by Wenger and Arsenal.

Fynn and Whitcher have spoken to ex-players and to key members of staff at Arsenal to look at every facet of the club. From player wage structure to commercial activity, from youth team setup to transfer policy, from Board structures to the the fitness regime and seemingly endless string of injuries, the authors leave no stone unturned in their quest to explore the real story of Arsenal football club and their enigmatic manager.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2014

Reviews

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a follow up to the authors previous "Arsènal: The Making Of A Modern Superclub" and perhaps the main criticism is that it doesn't really add to that book but merely updates it for the last few seasons.

The subtitle "The Quest To Rediscover Past Glories" rather sums up the current mood at Arsenal - and cynically one suspects this book has been written and published on the back of Arsenal finally winning a trophy in 2014. This gives the book an unduly optimistic spin, one which already appears dated by the halfway point in the 2014-15 when it is clear that very little has actually changed and the past glories of the period to 2004 are about as relevant to today's team as Herbert Chapman's feats in the 1930s.

The book is also a rather clunky read. I understand why the authors have chosen to go the thematic rather than chronological approach, but at times the different chapters feel like they have been written by different people, with very little cross reference between them and unnecessary repetition of anecdotes.

The story of the 2013-14 season and Arsenal's FA Cup win is relatively weak - it lacks the perspective of time and adds no real inside perspective,

The book's main value add is the coverage - often quite critical - of the behind-the-scenes activity at the club: the training and medical facilities, the youth system, commercial activities and the engagement with supporters. On the latter point it highlights the lack of delivery on initiatives such as the Supporters' Trust but praises the increasing engagement with the blogosphere - albeit in my view engaging with bloggers is very different to engaging with fans (it's the equivalent in politics of pandering to the press rather than the people). The overly optimistic note on which the book is written also rather carries through here - the appointment of a new fitness coach has failed to make any difference so far, although time will tell on the appointment of a new youth coach.

Overall, a quick read and enjoyable but not a book of lasting importance. Fynn and Whicher would have been better waiting until the (hopefully imminent) ending of Arsene's time at the club to write a more definitive verdict, rather than this rather interim piece.

[David Przybylinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the follow up to Making of a Modern Super Club. Alex Fynn uses a lot of good resources to dig into the last couple years of Arsenal up to winning the FA Cup in 2014,

Again, as the previous book, he tells stories of the success of bringing in certain players and the failure to keep others. He talks about the various supporters groups who tried to gain a voice, but ultimately failed as all the shares of stock are mainly under the control of two people, Kronke & Usmanov.

The club and players have sort of distanced themselves to avoid public relations and negativity. Still the club continued to run and make money as a business should, even though many of us want to see trophies and success, not 4th place and a spot in the Champions League.

Read this book, it's well worth it, but start with Arsènal: Making of a Modern Super Club.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Separate book to the various editions of their previous book – which briefly covers the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons before a more detailed coverage of the 2013/14 season done chronologically alongside themed chapters around areas such as finance, transfers, injuries/fitness, training/tactics, marketing and social media. Perhaps strongest on the latter (including for example good coverage of the blogs and of the main different supporter groups) definitely a worthwhile read if not always well written and clearly (as acknowledged by the authors) lacking the inside track of their previous books – they clearly have had no access to Wenger and although some contact with Dein, the latter is no longer on the inside of the club. The book therefore lacks any real revelations but is a good and balanced critical interpretation of where the club currently stands.

[... · Rating 2 out of 5]

some good passage and chapters. but disappointing sequel to the first book