It must have come to the attention of Gooners everywhere that Mr Wenger was in South Africa all through the period of the 2010 World Cup finals. Officially, his presence was explained as doing some commentary work for Canal France. Nothing new about that.
Mr Wenger was very well-received at the Nike complex and the glee on the faces of many youngsters was quite obvious seeing this very-famous man within arms' length.
One other thing you wouldn't have read on any websites, anywhere, was that Mr Wenger was very much in touch with Arsenal players involved in the World Cup. Altogether, there were 11 of them in South Africa with their various countries - not including Phillipe Senderos who had since upped tent and signed for Fulham after an uninspiring spell at Everton.
One of the things you definitely wouldn't have read anywhere was that Mr Wenger spoke at length with Thierry Henry in the French camp, as well as with William Gallas on the days leading up to the kick-off. Details of their conversation would forever remain a secret, but as it affects Arsenal FC, Mr Wenger tried to talk Gallas around to re-consider the club's offer of a contract extension.
Gallas, in deference to the man who has been his manager these past four years, promised to speak with his agents again and see if something could be done. Yeah right!
Unknown to him however, Raymond Domenech, the under-pressure French coach had decided against giving Gallas the captain's band for the World Cup finals.
Unknown to Wenger, Domenech was merely taking a leaf out of Wenger's own action of stripping the Arsenal captaincy from Gallas in December 2008 after his open verbal attacks on teammates that compromised the team's solidarity - something that is simply anathema to Wenger.
Bitter, disappointed, letdown and seething, Gallas played with the handbrakes on throughout France's three soulless games at the finals - his actions igniting all manner of revolts, infighting and uprisings in the Les Bleus as they bombed out of the World Cup.
Clearly, something Gallas never told Wenger in all their conversations, was how much he calculated on being the captain at the World Cup finals. How much it meant to him and his twilighting career. How much it would enhance his profile and give him a good bargaining hand as a free agent to negotiate with whatever clubside wanted his services after the World Cup. Which was why he never took a second look at Arsenal's offer of a one year extension - the norm for Wenger with all players over 30.
Unfortunately for Mr William, man is not a master of his fate.
The events surrounding France's tragic World Cup 2010 story blighted his reputaion and put paid to any plans of a glorious ride into the sunshine of his career.
Now, from pocketting GBP90,000 weekly at Arsenal, which would naturally not have been reduced significantly despite the offer of a one-year extension by the club, he finds himself haggling with Greek side Panathinaikos for GBP35,000. The Greeks of course cannot afford the bumper paypackets English clubs splash out every week, so for them it is take-it-or-leave-it.
For Mr William, there have been no stampede of offers from the Real Madrids, Barcelonas, AC Milans, etc. Instead, it has been only the Greeks so far who have put their money where their mouths are.
Frustrated for the second time in one summer, he is reportedly casting anxious eyes at any English clubs who may be interested. This time however, Arsenal and Chelsea cannot be expected to show any interest after the way they were both treated in the past four years by Mr William. Cashkings Manchester City wouldnt want him either considering it is now the home of his arch-enemy Kolo Toure, whom Mr William forced out of Arsenal just 12 months ago.
Don't be surprised therefore to eventually find Mr William plying his trade in some struggling side fighting for its life somewhere in mid-table, anywhere on the continent.
For someone with the ego the size of Mr William's, it sure must be a season of supreme silliness indeed.
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