#MerciArsene

Sad.

Gut wrenching.

Anger.

Annoyed.

Sleepless.

Rage.

Despondent.

Looking for a silver lining.

What ifs.

All of these emotions I have experienced in the last few hours.

Sad, anger and annoyed that there was no fairy tale.

Raging that some fans will never let go. 10 seasons from now, they will still be scapegoating Arsene and whichever player catches their vile fancy.

I want to say thank you to Arsene. You have given us joy in the last 22 years. I trust you will continue to give joy in whatever you decide to do following your few weeks of rest.

I genuinely hope you are happy. I genuinely wish you happiness. As a person who has given so much joy to football fans, you deserve plenty of good things in life.

I can only imagine your parents raised you to be a thoroughly decent person as it is not a coincidence that in all the clubs where you have played and worked people have nothing but good glowing words to say about you and how you have positively impacted their lives.

From when life had little or no material privileges to when life had significant resources like it did in Arsenal, you looked after both the emotional, physical, physiological and psychological well being of the people around you. Your good nature, good heart and kind consideration did not start yesterday, it is who you are.

I listened to your interview after the FA Cup victory last May and your words will stay with me forever. You are happy with your unique and unmatched achievements of winning the 2004 season undefeated and winning Seven FA Cups. I hope and pray that those two records remain unmatched in my lifetime.

I want to thank you for all the good things you did for Arsenal Football Club.

The 60,000 seater Arsene Wenger Emirates Stadium.

Turning Arsenal into one of European Football Elite.

Growing Arsenal’s global football fanbase.

Pioneering New Football Management methods.

Prolonging the playing career of many footballers.

Playing beautiful football on a shoe string budget.

Developing young players into global giants of the football game.

Building the back four that went the whole season undefeated for less than eight million pounds.

Watching Arsenal lift six trophies in the last five years.

Arsene I salute you.

Sadly the philosophy of free flowing football was always likely to have its own drawbacks. Just like any philosophy. But you have done your part and done it well. It is left to others to build on your legacy.

One Trophy every 2.2 years for someone who never managed the richest clubs and who never managed Lionel Messi, is a terrific achievement.

#MerciArsene

Baba Grumpy works in financial services in the United Kingdom. He blogs mostly about football at http://babagrumpy.blogspot.co.uk. His Twitter handle is @BabaGrumpy