Arsene Wenger is about to make an announcement this coming Friday, according to Sky Pundit and former Arsenal striker, Charlie Nicholas.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nicholas said:
“I have a feeling that there might be an announcement by the manager either on Friday or over the weekend to confirm that he is going to step down in the summer, perhaps going upstairs, easing the tension and allowing the team to have a go for the Europa League without the same strain.
“He knows the fans don’t hate him, they’re just angry with him, but it was the first time I’ve heard him use the word ‘hate’ and I just think he’s realising he needs to do something to ease the anger.
“I think when he looks up and sees 25,000 fans in the stadium he created that he’ll come to a decision that something has to change.”
Perhaps Nicholas has the inside track and information regarding the Arsenal boss that the rest of us mere mortals are not privy to. Maybe it’s a hunch or wishful thinking but before the ‘Wenger out’ brigade start popping champagne corks, let’s consider the Wenger we all know.
He has never contemplated leaving before a contract has expired and having been a large part in Arsenal’s disintegration last term, by not declaring his own intentions, you would think that such an unprecedented action wouldn’t be an option.
Wenger declaring that he will be leaving at the end of the campaign would be nothing short of suicide for the troubled club and would have a significant impact on the remaining games.
Arsenal play Milan on Thursday, their only opportunity to win a trophy and qualify for the Champions League. They have two away goals and barring disasters are good value to go forward.
They seem to be recovering from a devastating run of poor form and could now end the season on a decent run of results. So should we expect to believe the stubborn Frenchman will call it a day in the middle of this? No, not really, if anything, he would quit at the end of the season, especially whilst the North London club are still in with a shout of winning the Europa League.
Wenger is obviously concerned by his dwindling support base within the club hierarchy and from the rows of empty seats at an almost ghostly Emirates. He perhaps realises that his time has come, that results will erode his reputation and standing to such a degree that the next post may be hard to find.
The board have finally come to their senses and it appears that their faith in the Frenchman is at an all-time low but they will not push him to resign at this stage of the season. Much more likely, is that they will amicably find a resolution after the final whistle of the final game but even then, all parties will sit around a table to discuss how and when.
Arsenal are a club of tradition and they will want to handle this situation in a sensitive fashion to save face. Wenger still has his supporters, those who have seen him fill stadiums old and new and fill the squad with superstars and emerging talents on a scale never seen before.
They are still loyal to him, even if it is at an emotional level but even they realise that the longer he stays, the more complicated the situation becomes. The harder it is to sever the ties, the greater the chance of stagnation and how difficult it will be to re-establish the side on a domestic level and on the World stage.
