In a sanatorium in the south of France.
Arsène Wenger sat beneath a wide canopy of trees, dressed in a simple patient gown. The late morning sun broke cleanly through the sky, no clouds in sight, spilling warm light across the garden paths. It gave the entire place a soft stillness, the kind that dulled noise and slowed thought.
The sanatorium itself was quiet, almost sealed off from the outside world. Tall trees surrounded the grounds, flowers lined the walkways, and distant water features added a faint, steady sound. Everything felt controlled, maintained, carefully arranged for recovery.
For a few days, Wenger had allowed himself to exist in it.
No meetings.
No urgent calls.
No constant pressure layered on top of another.
Just relaxation.
Under a large tree nearby, another man sat opposite him.
White hair, neatly kept. Upright posture. Calm eyes that still carried sharpness.
David Dein.
To many Arsenal supporters from earlier years, the face was unmistakable. The former vice-chairman who helped bring Wenger to North London. The partner in the construction of a team that once changed how football was played in England.
Wenger glanced at him first.
"You've been talking too much outside again."
Dein gave a small shrug.
"I told them what they needed to hear."
Wenger exhaled lightly, not quite a laugh.
"About my health."
"About reality," Dein corrected. "It is better they hear it gradually. Not one day waking up to a statement saying you have stepped away because of illness. That would be worse for the club and worse for you."
He leaned back slightly.
"Of course, you can also call that me having a big mouth."
Wenger shook his head, a faint smile forming despite himself.
The silence between them did not feel empty. It felt familiar.
Once, they had operated in constant alignment. One handles football decisions, the other manages structure and finance. The balance had built something stable, something competitive, something admired.
After 2007, that balance disappeared.
Dein left his position. The weight shifted fully onto Wenger. Decisions became slower, heavier, and more isolated.
Sometimes, Wenger still thought about it. How different things might have been if that partnership had continued.
Dein broke the silence first.
"Usmanov is not willing to let Red and White Holdings take control. He is holding his position."
Wenger's gaze stayed forward.
"He is a supporter, but enough of an operator."
Dein raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a problem?"
Wenger did not answer immediately.
Then he spoke.
"Moratti at Inter Milan."
Dein understood the reference at once.
Wenger continued.
"I respect his love for the club. But that love also shaped decisions that were not always stable. Emotional ownership creates instability. Arsenal cannot afford that."
Dein nodded slowly, listening.
Wenger's voice remained steady.
"At the moment, Usmanov holds significant influence, but there is no balance. If that influence extends into daily sporting decisions, I cannot predict the outcome. I do not want the club moving in that direction."
Dein looked at him carefully.
"So you want me back on the board."
Wenger nodded.
"I also considered Kroenke. But that would create conflict. I do not want internal tension to increase. You are the more suitable option."
He paused, then added without hesitation.
"Come back. Try again. The club is strong. You have seen it. The squad is good. The structure is improving. We can still build something lasting."
Dein gave a short laugh, almost tired.
"I am not young anymore. You still want me back in that environment. You are asking too much."
Wenger's expression tightened slightly.
"I need you."
Dein's answer came after a brief pause.
"I believe you will manage well."
It was not spoken loudly. It was a refusal shaped gently, but firmly enough to end the discussion.
Wenger understood.
He nodded once and let the matter drop.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Wenger's phone rang.
He frowned before even looking at the screen. He had given clear instructions. Only essential calls. Only fixed reporting windows.
This was not scheduled.
He answered.
"Professor."
Martin Hughes' voice came through immediately. Controlled urgency breaking through.
"Rosicky wants to leave. Ramsey is also considering it. Everton has submitted an offer for Walcott. Walcott himself is open to a move; he wants a new start."
Wenger's expression changed in an instant.
The calm of the garden did not reach him anymore.
These were not star names, but they were structural pieces. Rotation players. Tactical links. Depth that held the system together.
Walcott especially.
A player he had planned to reintegrate into a new attacking structure. A connection point with Le Kai. A pace outlet that could stretch games when needed.
The timing made it worse. Not scattered uncertainty, but simultaneous pressure from multiple directions.
Wenger closed his eyes for a moment.
"I understand."
His voice stayed controlled.
Then he ended the call.
Silence returned, heavier than before.
Dein watched him.
Wenger let out a long breath.
"The rest period is over."
Dein's expression shifted slightly.
"A full treatment cycle has not even finished."
"Yes."
Wenger slowly pushed himself up from the bench, steadying his weight on his legs.
"But I have to return."
He adjusted his gown slightly, already shifting mentally away from the quiet garden.
Dein watched him for a moment longer, then shook his head.
"He never allows himself to stop."
Wenger did not respond.
He walked away through the garden path, sunlight falling across his back.
The following day, Arsène Wenger returned to the Arsenal training centre. Determined to address the squad situation promptly, he immediately convened meetings with Tomáš Rosický, Aaron Ramsey, and Theo Walcott.
The discussions proved difficult. All three players expressed a firm desire to leave the club.
Rosický, whose contract had expired, was now a free agent. He had already decided to return to Sparta Prague, the club where his professional journey had begun. Despite Wenger's sincere efforts to persuade him to remain, Rosický remained resolute.
"I have given everything for Arsenal," Rosický said quietly, "but it is time to go home and complete the circle."
Ramsey's reasoning centred on his diminishing role in midfield. With Kai firmly established as captain and an indispensable starter, and N'Golo Kanté rapidly developing into a world-class defensive midfielder, Ramsey felt he could no longer secure a consistent starting position.
"I am ashamed to say it, but the competition is simply too intense," Ramsey explained. "Kanté is performing at an exceptional level. Juventus have shown strong interest, and I believe a fresh start there — partnering with Pirlo — offers me the best opportunity to progress."
Walcott's departure carried a different tone. Though he had delivered strong performances in the Premier League the previous season, he felt Wenger had not provided him and Ángel Di María with a fair competitive environment.
Everton's concrete interest further strengthened his determination to move on.
The three players' positions were unwavering. After careful consideration, Wenger reluctantly accepted their decisions.
These departures, combined with those of Bacary Sagna, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Ángel Di María, represented a significant exodus.
The loss of Di María had already created instability; the additional departures threatened to undermine the squad's cohesion even further. Santi Cazorla's ongoing injury concerns only compounded the uncertainty.
The new season appeared precarious for a team that had only just claimed the UEFA Champions League title. Signs of fragmentation were evident during the summer transfer window.
With Cazorla also injured, the sole reassuring development was the steadfast commitment of Le Kai, Sanchez, and Luis Suárez. As the undisputed core of the side, their continued presence ensured Arsenal retained genuine competitiveness at the highest level.
Wenger wasted little time. Setting aside his own physical discomfort, he immersed himself fully in recruitment efforts to fill the emerging vacancies.
The departing players had shown loyalty by informing the club in advance, granting the manager valuable time to plan reinforcements.
However, further unwelcome news soon arrived. Real Madrid submitted a formal offer for goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who expressed a strong desire to join the Spanish giants.
"Who can refuse Real Madrid?" Navas had reportedly stated.
This latest development caught Wenger off guard. After losing several key players, the potential departure of the starting goalkeeper represented another severe blow.
While squad turnover was expected after their Champions League triumph, the scale and speed of Arsenal's changes felt overwhelming.
Other clubs, invigorated by Arsenal's success, had transformed into aggressive pursuers, actively targeting the Gunners' squad in what Wenger privately described as a supermarket raid.
The situation was rapidly escalating beyond his control, leaving the manager with a profound sense of concern for the squad's immediate future.
. . .
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