Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Wenger’s successor to ‘inherit under-rated squad’
ARSENE Wenger bid farewell to the Emirates Stadium yesterday before insisting his replacement as Arsenal manager will take over a highly under-rated squad.
The 68-year-old will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on a reign lasting almost 22 years.
His final home game in charge saw the Gunners thrash Burnley 5-0 as a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace and goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac and Alex Iwobi set up a fitting goodbye to their manager.
Wenger, whose final season will end without silverware and with the lowest Premier League finish of his tenure, was presented with Arsenal’s golden “Invincibles” trophy from their unbeaten 2003-04 title-winning season.
Speaking after the usual lap of honour, which he completed with his players, the Frenchman would again not be drawn on his replacement but said the team at his disposal will be good enough to challenge for honours.
“I think it is better I don’t speak publicly about the next manager because I’m not involved in the story,” he said.
“I do not want to put any pressure on the club to choose this guy or this guy and give already a handicap to the guy who comes in because he has been chosen or it wasn’t my decision — I am nothing to do with that.
“I think he inherits a team that is better than people think it is. You can see the togetherness of this team is special and, with the right additions, this team will challenge next year.”