Arsène Wenger remains the only manager in English football history to win the Premier League unbeaten, guiding his “Invincibles” Arsenal side to glory in 2004. That squad featured legendary stars like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, and Dennis Bergkamp, dominating both domestically and in Europe.
In later years, silverware became harder to claim, coinciding with Arsenal’s move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium. The club increasingly focused on developing academy talent rather than signing established stars, though Wenger still managed squads full of elite-level players.
Under Wenger, talents like Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie, and Mesut Özil flourished, highlighting his ability to elevate players’ careers. His reputation was such that Pep Guardiola admitted he would have loved to play under Wenger during his Barcelona days.
Despite a career spanning over 1,200 matches with 715 wins, Wenger revealed two players he most regretted not signing. The first was Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Manchester United in 2003 and became a key rival, scoring five goals in 11 Premier League matches against Arsenal.
Wenger explained that Ronaldo nearly joined Arsenal, but Manchester United acted faster, securing the Portugal star just days later. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner would go on to dominate English and European football, leaving Wenger with a lingering “what if” from early in his career.
The second regret came at the end of his tenure: N’Golo Kanté. Wenger revealed the French midfielder could have been signed easily from his youth club in Suresnes, yet eventually moved through the lower French divisions before becoming one of the Premier League’s greatest defensive midfielders.
Wenger’s influence reshaped English football, opening doors for foreign managers like Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp. Yet missing out on Ronaldo and Kanté remains a rare personal regret, highlighting the fine margins even great managers face in building historic teams.
