Even Europa glory won’t save Wenger

ARSENE WENGER could win the Europa League – and still leave Arsenal this summer.

To suggest winning the trophy will be enough for Wenger to save his job is misjudging the mood at the Emirates.

The clamour for change among fans has gone way beyond them wanting a trophy and a route back into the Champions League.

The more fair-minded think the Europa League would give the Frenchman the chance of a glorious farewell.

The less rational just want shot of him now, and would happily sacrifice the Europa League, if that meant getting rid of Wenger. The love affair which was once so sweet has turned horribly sour.

The moment that any club loses its fans is the moment you have to change. There is generally no way back and the apathy with the half-empty stadiums has made that very clear. Supporters have given up on Wenger. They have had enough, and to prolong it for another season would be a terrible mistake, and could push the club even further behind the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham. Wenger should have gone last summer after winning the FA Cup, as there was always a danger this year could go horribly wrong and the Europa League campaign is just papering over the cracks.

It was the old boys on the Arsenal board who wanted to change it last summer and yet majority shareholder Stan Kroenke stood firm and gave Wenger another contract.

But Kroenke is well aware of the problems. The team is not playing well, the level of the squad has dipped with bad buys, and the free-flowing football is long gone. That’s another reason for the apathy at the Emirates.

Wenger is 68, on £8million a year, has never broken a contract, and will not be about to do so now. But even he knows it will be hard to carry on.

For the sake of his sanity and health, and to prevent the fans’ mood getting even worse, Wenger must go this summer. With or without the Europa League. And there IS a very real chance he could win the trophy – and still go.