WENGER LOVES GUNNERS TO DEATH
The boss cares so much about his beloved Arsenal but he’s in danger of leaving them in utter chaos
ARSENE WENGER is in danger of leaving the club he loves in chaos.
Under-pressure Wenger takes immense pride in claiming he “built the club up” during his 20 years in charge as Arsenal boss.
He established himself as one of the world’s top managers after winning three Premier League titles, two Doubles and reaching the Champions League final in his first decade in charge.
But the last 10 years have seen a decline to the point that the foundations the Frenchman put in place are creaking, with his legacy in jeopardy.
The Emirates is torn, a stadium divided by loyalty and a sense of pity for the club’s greatest-ever manager against demands for change this summer.
Long gone are the days when Arsenal used to be genuine title challengers, a European force and playing some of the best football in the Premier League.
Wenger has gone from being a winner and a revolutionary – from diet to tactics – to clinging on to the consolation of a place in the top four.
A younger generation like Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola have left him behind with more tactical discipline compared to Wenger’s expansive philosophy.
Star names Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who were bought to take the club to the top, could leave this summer as disillusionment grows in the dressing room.
Arsenal have fallen behind. Last summer’s big-money sign- ings – Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi – have been huge disappointments, despite costing a total of nearly £70million.
Wenger has definitely not lost the dressing room, but there is some bewilderment about what happens next. They are a club in limbo, unsure about the future of its manager and stars.
Summer targets do not know who will be at Arsenal next season so they are not ready to commit until they know Wenger’s future. Even his own coaches and backroom staff do not know whether he will stay or go.
And depressingly, the apathy in the stadium for the Bayern Munich game revealed that Arsenal fans were almost resigned to their fate as serial losers destined for an early exit from the Champions League for a seventh year running.
It worries members of Wenger’s best team, The Invincibles. He is relying on a top-four finish or winning the FA Cup to save him, yet former midfielder Ray Parlour says even the FA Cup quarter-final with Lincoln will be tough. Parlour said: “It’s the most stressed-out I’ve ever seen him in his career.
“I just hope he does not walk away on a low because he deserves to be remembered for his legacy, having done so much for the club.
“It’s a hard crowd, a tough atmosphere. Everyone thinks it’s a bye into the semi-finals and will be easy, but no, Lincoln will be hard, it will be tougher than people expect.”
Former keeper Jens Lehmann added: “He has to stay, because he’s done so much for the club.
“People are talking about his age, asking if he still has something to give and saying they want a new manager to come in to bring fresh air.
“But it’s hard to replace intelligence and we all know he is very intelligent and he’s still got the fire.
“He probably needs a bit more time in the future with some new signings and then next season could be a completely different situation.”