Gunners give outgoing Wenger reasons to smile
Little signs of tributes as they pummel West Ham 4-1
Arsenal responded to Arsene Wenger’s decision to bring his 22year reign as manager to a close at the end of the season by thumping West Ham 4-1 in a subdued atmosphere at the Emirates yesterday.
Wenger, 68, had come under growing pressure to go from disgruntled supporters having failed to win the Premier League for 14 years before announcing his decision to leave on Friday.
And despite players and the club’s hierarchy promising that Wenger would be given a grand send-off, there was little sign of tributes to a man, who is by a distance Arsenal’s most successful ever manager with three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups to his name.
However, four second-half goals from Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey and two late strikes from Alexandre Lacazette ensured Wenger was able to celebrate a comfortable victory on a gloriously sunny yesterday afternoon in the British capital.
In his programme notes Wenger reiterated his plea for the fans to get behind the team for the rest of the season with Arsenal still in with a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League via the Europa League.
But there were only sporadic chants of “there’s only one Arsene Wenger” from the home support, while, continuing a trend in recent home games, empty seats could be seen around the Emirates.
Arsenal are on course to finish lower than ever under Wenger in the Premier League as they remain in sixth, six points adrift of Chelsea.
However, Wenger can still sign off leaving the club in the Champions League by winning the Europa League, where Arsenal host Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.
“My love and support for Arsenal will last forever and I urge our fans to stand behind the team so we can finish on a high,” said Wenger.