D-DAY FOR WENGER
City showdown to seal fate of Gunners boss
ARSENAL’S clash with Manchester City on Sunday is set to decide Arsene Wenger’s future.
Starsport understands Wenger will announce his decision on whether he stays or goes after the showdown at The Emirates.
A good result against City would boost the Gunners’ top-four hopes and is likely to prompt Wenger to announce he will sign a new contract.
But another defeat will pave the way for him to reveal he is leaving at the end of the season.
The Gunners have lost four of their last five league games – their worst run in 21 years under Wenger. And the Frenchman knows another setback at home will see the mood among fans turn against him even more.
There have been violent clashes between pro- and anti-Wenger fans in the stands over the last few weeks, most recently during the 5-0 home win over Lincoln in the FA Cup.
A loss against City, combined with a Liverpool win over Everton the day before, would see the Gunners slip nine points off the last Champions
League qualification spot. Even if Everton get a result in the Merseyside derby it adds to the pressure for Wenger and his men as they will face City in seventh place – an unthinkable position at this stage of the season for fans.
Wenger promised a decision earlier this month “very, very soon” but as of yesterday he had still given no clues to his players or staff.
The Gunners trail leaders Chelsea by 19 points and their 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge in February was one of the games where different factions of fans were spotted fighting amongst themselves.