'Herbert Chapman smiled at me' - Arsene Wenger embraces 'special meaning' of Arsenal farewell

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James Benge14 May 2018

Arsene Wenger’s goodbye may have been snatched away by Atletico Madrid but the departing Arsenal manager still saw “special meaning” in a farewell in the town where Herbert Chapman made his name.

Chapman - “maybe Arsenal’s greatest manager”, according to Wenger - won two First Division titles and an FA Cup with Huddersfield before heading to Arsenal, who he established as the dominant team of the 1930s before his death at the age of 55 in 1934.

Wenger has been acutely aware of the values that Chapman helped to imbue in Arsenal and the Frenchman has done more than any manager since to ensure that the spirit of his predecessor remains in the club.

That meant that though he had been dreaming of ending his reign in the Europa League final in Lyon on Wednesday the spectre of Chapman made the 1-0 at the Kirklees Stadium all the sweeter.

“Herbert Chapman, who was maybe our greatest manager, came from here,” Wenger said. “For me to come here on the last day had a special meaning.

“When you know the history of our club, for me it has a special meaning. In fact there was a photo just in front of the dressing room where Chapman smiled at me.”

He added: “I’m very proud of having contributed a little bit to give some good moments to people who love the club, but you know what still will remain, I don’t know.

“The victories or the defeats? But I think what will remain is the formidable human aspect of those 22 years that were special and I will cherish that.”

Wenger’s 1,235th and final match in charge of Arsenal was always going to be an emotional affair, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half winner a mere side act to the tributes - and the well-earned celebrations from Huddersfield fans who will watch their team in the Premier League again next season.

The 68-year-old made sure that he made the most of what seems likely to be his final game in club management and was sat in the dugout an hour before kick-off as he soaked up the atmosphere.

“I wanted to get a bit out. It’s my last day, I thought I deserved a bit of oxygen, and it was nice weather.

“The people were nice, Huddersfield was happy. They offered me a nice present before the game.

“It all worked well.”

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