Arsene Wenger experienced many highs and lows during his 22-year tenure at Arsenal, but one moment almost tainted his entire career.
As seen in today’s game, to last 22 years as the manager of a Premier League club is a magnificent achievement in itself.
Wenger, of course, went even further, going a whole season unbeaten at Arsenal, winning three Premier League titles and a staggering seven FA Cups.
The Frenchman lost several finals too, including the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona, but there was almost an even greater tragedy towards the end of his tenure.
In the 2014 FA Cup final, Arsenal had a nine-year wait for a trophy at stake, and almost blew it to Hull City.
Arsene Wenger thought he was going to be sacked if Arsenal didn’t win the 2014 FA Cup final
Hull City held a lead in the game until the 71st minute, giving Wenger just 19 minutes of regular time to save the contest.
It wasn’t only the FA Cup that was on the line with less than 20 minutes to go, as Wenger genuinely feared for his job if Arsenal hadn’t won.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, opposition manager on the day, Steve Bruce, revealed a conversation he had with Wenger after the game.
“We were 2-0 up, but it was 2-1 very, very quickly. So we always knew that we were going to be up against it,” Bruce explained.
“It’s funny, after the game, I remember having a cup of tea with Arsene Wenger and said, if I had lost today, Steve, I think I was gone.”
Aaron Ramsey saved the day at Wembley, scoring the match-winner in added time to end Arsenal’s streak without silverware.
Things could’ve been so different for the Gunners and Wenger on that famous day under the arch, and the former Arsenal manager certainly knew it.
What Wenger said about his future after Arsenal’s FA Cup win
Mikel Arteta was part of the squad that lifted the FA Cup, and had Arsenal not won, who knows whether the Spaniard would’ve ever become manager.
Wenger remained at Arsenal for a further four years after that final, being succeeded by Unai Emery in 2018 before Arteta took charge in 2019.
Bruce’s insight into how fearful Wenger was about his job after the drama in the final is fascinating, but the narrative isn’t something the Arsenal legend ever shied away from.
In 2016, Wenger told Standard Sport that he didn’t know what the future would’ve held for him had he failed to win the 2014 final.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know. What was up in the air was to give everything to win the final and after to reflect on it. If we had lost it, I don’t know. Honestly I don’t know.
“Usually, I respect my contracts, and I fight for everything. I think to say to you that 17 years at a club depend on one Cup final, so it’s better you don’t go to the final then.”
Wenger won the final and bowed out of Arsenal as a club legend on his own terms in 2018, but it was so nearly very different.
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