WENGER DROPS A BOMBSHELL
Arsenal manager to walk away at the end of season after 22 years at helm
ARSENE Wenger shocked Arsenal players yesterday after announcing that he will finally step down as manager at the end of the season after 22 years in charge.
The 68-year-old Frenchman, who joined Arsenal from Nagoya Grampus Eight all the way back in 1996, stunned players and staff, telling them about his departure completely out of the blue at the club’s London Colney training base.
He introduced the sudden news by telling them ‘I have bad news’, before captain Per Mertesacker addressed his teammates.
It was reported that the club are looking to Germany for Wenger’s replacement. Former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel and Germany boss Joachim Low are among the frontrunners. However, the board are also understood to like Brendan Rodgers.
Wenger penned an emotional statement to Arsenal supporters as he announced his departure, offering them ‘my love and support for ever’.
Wenger dropped the bombshell ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with West Ham at the Emirates tomorrow.
There has been open unrest at the Emirates in recent years following the Frenchman’s failure to win the league title since 2004.
He has however won 10 major trophies during his time in north London and will be remembered as the club’s greatest ever manager.
He told Arsenal’s official website: “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.
“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years. I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.
“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special. I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.
“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”
1996:
The year when a thenunheralded Wenger, who had been in charge at Monaco and Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight, took over at Highbury.
Games at the helm, ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League fixture against West Ham.
Wins to date as Arsenal boss.
Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/2004.
Goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger’s teams.
Major trophies won.
Premier League victories. FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
Premier League losses.
Full seasons in charge. Games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Arsenal’s shell-shocked players reacted to Wenger’s news by making a pact together to send him out in a blaze of glory by winning the Europa League. They face Atletico Madrid in the semifinals, with the first-leg taking place next Thursday.
Wenger’s backroom staff, including long-standing men Gerry Peyton, Boro Primorac and Tony Colbert are expected to go. However, assistant manager Steve Bould could still be kept on.
Tuchel is the bookies’ favourite to take over from Wenger in the summer. The 44-year-old German is highly regarded internationally and is without a club after leaving Dortmund last year.
Arsenal’s links to Dortmund have grown strong in recent years with the German club’s former recruitment guru Sven Mislintat taking up a similar role at the Emirate Stadium last November.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was signed from Dortmund in January for £57 million (RM311 million), while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also a former Dortmund man.
Germany boss Low is also high up in the running, and could relish linking up with Arsenal’s German contingent, including Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi, after this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Carlo Ancelotti, a three-time Champions League-winning manager, is a free agent, while legendary Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira would be a popular choice with fans — he has been cutting his managerial teeth at New York City.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and former Liverpool boss Rodgers are also strongly fancied for the job.
Meanwhile, Wenger himself is second favourite to take over as manager at Ligue 1 giants ParisSaint Germain, behind Arsenal target Tuchel.
The Gunners hope the announcement will ignite the club’s hopes of winning the Europa League as Wenger looks to go out on high.
Wenger had been desperate to stay on; but the club’s powerbrokers have been dead set on the Frenchman leaving this summer following their disappointing season.
It was revealed in February that Wenger leaving was emerging as a genuine option and the news has now been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke described this as the ‘most difficult day we have ever had’.
The American said: “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport.
“One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.
“Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record.
“He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.”