Vultures circle as Wenger hints at Arsenal exit
A downbeat Arsene Wenger said he has decided on his Arsenal future and would reveal all soon after his side slumped to a dismal 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Two goals by Craig Dawson and one from substitute Hal Robson-Kanu meant Arsenal have lost four of their last five Premier League games — the worst run in Wenger’s 21-year rule at the north London club.
Arsenal could slip to sixth place on Sunday if Manchester United beat Middlesbrough, piling more pressure on Wenger, and fans — even his most loyal disciples — are losing patience.
Banners calling for him to go were evident among the travelling fans while above, circling like a vulture, a small plane trailed the slogan “NO CONTRACT #WENGEROUT”.
Wenger appeared as deflated as his team afterwards when facing reporters. “Don’t worry, I know what I will do in my future,” Wenger told reporters. “You will soon know. Very soon. You will see.
“Today, I don’t necessarily worry about that. I know what I (will) do.” Wenger said the club were not aware of his decision and nothing would be announced during the international break.
It was a familiar tale of woe at the Hawthorns where Arsenal enjoyed 77 percent of the possession but managed only two shots on target — one of which was Alexis Sanchez’s equaliser.
Lacking any spark up front and in disarray at the back with Dawson given a free run to head in two corners, Arsenal are in danger of sliding out of contention for a top-four finish. their relentless progress, moving 13 points clear at the top of the table as Gary Cahill scored a late winner in a hardearned 2-1 win at Stoke City on Saturday.
Even without the injured Eden Hazard, Antonio Conte’s men, who have lost just one game in 2017, triumphed again when Cahill struck three minutes from time to make amends for giving away a firsthalf penalty.