All it takes is a single moment, a single spark, for the entire world to bow down to you in downright worship or for the world to throw their jeers and taunts at you. All it takes is a fleeting moment, for you to become known by all. A single moment for your entire life to change. Very rarely do these moments happen in an individual's life. And even rarer is both of the, happening, to the same man.
He was the man who made the club relevant. The man who brought them so much, for so little. The man who led them to power. The man who made and led the 'Invincibles'. The man who lead them to glory over and over again. The man who raised them. The man who made them. The man who made them play football different from the rest, something so beautiful and unique.
"You either die a HERO, or live long enough to see yourself become the VILLAIN."
He was the man who stood by his ideals, as they failed. He was the man who was in-charge as they fell from top of the world to the bottom. The man who hesitated to spend money to save the club. The man who stuck with his old school beliefs.
He's the man who was a hero, who later turned rouge. The villain, who was a hero once upon a time.
Arsenal fans, you've finally got your 'Wenger Out'. You've finally seen the man who made you, go out of your club. What now? Sadness? Happiness? Or just plain nostalgia?
My favorite Arsène Wenger quote:
"I believe the target of anything in life should be to do it so well that it becomes an art".
For over two decades, he did just that.
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After a hard fought journey, traversing through countless, numerous difficulties he finally reached the end. He had finally reached the Zenith of the mountain. The end of the journey. Looking back at the way he had travelled through, a wry grin was spotted on his face.
So many wrong paths. So many mistakes. And so many different experiences. He had enjoyed the sweet taste of success. The bitter pain of defeat, even after a hard fought battle. The relationship he built through the years. The fights, the gains, the victories, everything passed through his head in a single flash. 22 years worth of memories flashed by, in just a single moment. His heart was blank. It was like giving up your wife to someone else. Unthinkable. But then, he surely had to give it up. He surely had to pass it on to his next successor, and let his successor travel the rest of the journey. This was where he had to leave. This was his final destination.
"Thank you, and goodbye" he said looking at what was left of his beloved club.
"I'll miss you" he said as tears dropped through his face and into the ground.
And the, he watched in as they moved forward like usual, only this time, he wasn't there. Bit by bit, they finally moved away, until they were no longer within his sight. Now, he was just a part of their history. His baby wasn't his own anymore.
Sitting at a nearby bench, he cried. He cried over and over, with an empty heart that felt numb that day.
It was then that he felt a gentle nudge on his shoulders.
With a warm smile on his pink face, Alex Ferguson stood there holding a cup of tea.
"Welcome Arsène. I've been waiting for you for so long. I've gotten bored here without some company".
"Fancy some tea?" The Bespectacled Scot asked the Frenchman.
I know it's a bit late to say about Arsène's farewell, but I had it written so just wanted to publish.
Enjoy!