Arsenal Board Breaks Silence On Manager Arsene Wenger’s future

Arsenal Board Breaks Silence On Manager Arsene Wenger’s future

The Gunners board took the unusual step of releasing a statement to clarify the future of their under-fire boss — who remains defiant despite calls from disgruntled fans for him to leave at the end of the season.

Intriguingly, the statement indicated that the decision over whether or not Wenger will sign a new deal would not be made solely by the Frenchman, but collectively with the board.

The statement read: ‘We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate.

‘We respect that fans are entitled to their different, individual opinions, but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.

‘Arsene has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way.’

The statement stopped short of publicly backing Wenger, with results between now and the end of the season likely to be the key factor in whether he stays.

Fans ramped up their calls for the boss to leave during the 5-1 drubbing by Bayern Munich +8
Fans ramped up their calls for the boss to leave during the 5-1 drubbing by Bayern Munich

Wenger remains defiant despite the humiliating defeat and his future seemingly uncertain +8
Wenger remains defiant despite the humiliating defeat and his future seemingly uncertain
Wenger, privately, retains the full support of majority shareholder Stan Kroenke. Indeed, in an ideal world Wenger would prefer to sign the two-year contract on the table.

But, as it stands, the animosity towards him from growing sections of the club’s fanbase means announcing he is staying at this juncture would only serve to fan the flames.

The surprise statement acknowledged the differing views of supporters regarding Wenger’s future.

And the manager admitted the discontent would be a factor in his final decision. He said: ‘Yes, fans’ opinion will have an impact on my decision, you consider everything. It will not be the most important factor, but of course, you consider it.’

And following Barcelona’s remarkable Champions League comeback against Paris Saint- Germain on Wednesday night, Wenger then pointed out how opinions about Barca coach Luis Enrique have changed.

‘It just sums it up that two weeks ago he (Enrique) was an idiot and everyone said, “You have to leave”, so he did. Today he is a hero. That sums up the job,’ said Wenger.

The demise of PSG at the Nou Camp could yet have an impact on Wenger’s future.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Paris club’s chairman, is a huge fan of Wenger and has failed on more than one occasion to lure the manager to the French capital.

Unai Emery's future at Parc des Princes appears in the balance after sensational defeat +8
Unai Emery's future at Parc des Princes appears in the balance after sensational defeat
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, PSG’s chairman, is a fan of Wenger and has previously tried to lure him away

But with Unai Emery’s future under scrutiny following their capitulation from 4-0 up to lose 6-5 on aggregate, Al-Khelaifi could make one last bid.

Meanwhile, Arsenal players and staff are more convinced than ever that Alexis Sanchez wants to leave the club at the end of the season, having noticed a drop of intensity in training.

The former Barcelona striker’s mood has deteriorated recently, culminating in him storming off during a training session last week. It appears Sanchez erupted because his side were losing a training match and then he suffered a heavy tackle from a team-mate.

Laurent Koscielny, among others, went into the dressing room to confront furious Sanchez, who was then dropped for last weekend’s defeat at Liverpool.

But Wenger said: ‘We have a good, united, determined group. When you go through disappointing results, you always have some disagreements.

‘Overall, on that front I don’t worry. In our job, you have to be competitive and competitiveness doesn’t always mean love.

‘It is about performing. In the past, it’s not the team who loves each other the most who is the best on the football field.’

Alexis Sanchez's mood has deteriorated lately but Wenger insists they have a united group +8
Alexis Sanchez's mood has deteriorated lately but Wenger insists they have a united group