Wenger slams ‘hurtful’ fans as his long goodbye begins
LONDON — Arsene Wenger has accused Arsenal fans who campaigned for his removal of creating a ‘hurtful’ atmosphere that damaged the club’s image.
The Frenchman announced last Friday that his 22-year tenure with the Gunners will come to a close at the end of the season, but as yet has not given the reasons for his departure.
Wenger won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups during his time in charge.
However, the Gunners haven’t won the league for 14 years and, at sixth in the standings this term, are on course for their worst-ever finish under Wenger despite beating West Ham 4-1 on Sunday.
“I was not tired,” Wenger, 68, said of his decision to move on.
“Personally I believe this club is respected all over the world, much more than in England.
“The fans did not give me the image of unity I want all over the world and that was hurtful because I think the club is respected.
“Overall, the image we gave is not what it is and not what I like.”
Fans have become increasingly frustrated with Wenger’s inability to build a side capable of matching the standards he set in his first decade in charge.
“Wenger out!” signs had become commonplace at Arsenal matches in recent seasons, while there were vast swaths of empty seats at home games in recent months.
“I’m not resentful and I don’t want to make stupid headlines,” added Wenger.
“I just feel if my personality is in the way of what I think our club needs, for me that is more important than me.”
Wenger, though, defended his record at the club and believes Arsenal is in a far better shape to succeed than when he arrived in 1996.
“Every decision I made in my 22 years is for the good and sake of Arsenal,” he said.
“I tried to influence the club on the structural side, on the development of players and of course the style of play and the results, and to combine the three is not always easy.
“I believe I will leave the club in a very strong position on both fronts and my target was always to do that. My wish is that they do even better in the next 20 years.”
Reports in the days since Wenger made his decision public suggest he could have been forced out by the club’s board had he not left on his own terms.
Wenger added credence to those suggestions by continuously refusing to address why the decision was taken now.
“I gave the best years of my life to this club. I arrived at 46 years old and I worked seven days a week, not six or six and a half, for 22 years.
“You cannot just walk away and say ‘bye bye’ like nothing happened.
“I know I will face that challenge. It will be difficult for me, but I got through other difficulties in my life.”
Wenger didn’t rule out continuing his coaching career elsewhere, although he accepted it is unlikely he will manage another English club.
“If you speak about emotions that would be, for me, emotionally difficult,” he added.
“I don’t know how well I will live about that. It’s difficult for me to say never, but at the minute I speak to you I’m too attached to this club to say I will go to another club.”