When Arsene Wenger announced his decision to part company with Arsenal, all the players made wide-ranging statements about how they were upset to lose their father figure who has given every single one of them the chance to play at the highest level under his tutelage.
But the fact is that the team hardly looked like they were playing for the manager any more and the lacklustre performances, especially away from home, made it look like they has little interest in trying their hardest for the Boss any more despite the utterances coming out of their mouths.
According to our new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the players are actually excited to see a new coach come in as it was obvious that the club was stagnating under Wenger. He told the French media channel RMC: “I think it’s a little bit of a mixed feeling in fact.
“On one hand, it’s strange for all the fans that the coach has left. But it’s definitely a fresh start.
“Since over the last few seasons – you have to tell the truth – the club has stagnated a little bit, I think everyone is actually a little bit excited to see what happens next season.
“It is strange that the coach has left after 22 years. But that’s life – we have to look forward.
“It’s going to be a new start so we’ll have so we’ll have to see how it goes… everyone will have to get it into their heads that we have to work hard to rival the best.”
Our amazingly bad record away from home after Christmas certainly would make it look like the players were helping the club to realise that they had stopped playing for Wenger, and were actually keen to see the back of him so they could start moving forward again.
Do you think that, like the fans, they realised that they had to help Wenger on his way out the door?
Darren N