Arsenal shareholder Piers Morgan has claimed that the recent failed protest has just given Arsene Wenger the ammunition to sign a new deal, which is already on the table.
The Frenchman was the subject of a protest at the weekend, with banners being held up in the 12th and 78th minutes of the match, as well as at the final whistle. Said banners read: Time for change. Arsenal is stale – Fresh approach needed’.
Arsenal have gone 12 years without a Premier League title win, although I think it is valid to bring up the fact that Roman Abramovich brought his millions into the Premier League the summer before that win.
The fact still remains that we fans have grown frustrated with the lack of progression in recent years, having tolerated the excuses of building the stadium previously, the Emirates is now fully paid off, and rewards are expected for being so patient.
A number of fans want Wenger to go, but shareholder (and all-round nuisance) Piers Morgan has claimed that the manager is sitting with a three-year deal waiting to be signed, and he will use the failed protest as reason to accept the terms.
The 66 year-old was welcomed by cheers of ‘there’s only one Arsene Wenger’ following the supposed raising of the banners, which is claimed to have given him the idea that 80% of the supporters are behind him, contrary to previous belief.
Morgan said: ‘Wenger, I know for a fact, has a new three-year contract on his desk. He is, as he normally does, trying to strategically play the fans and the media to a point where he can legitimately sign that new £25 million contract.
‘On Saturday, the fans had a chance to basically make their view known that it is time for change, but it turned into a massive damp squib. Yes, a few thousand did put their placards up, but it wasn’t well organised and it didn’t play out particularly well.
‘What Wenger immediately did was turn this into: “I was so surprised. I’m so delighted 80% of the fans are with me”.
‘I know what this means. It means he is going to sign a new contract, and that means Arsenal will go another three years without winning the league and without winning the Champions League. If fans continue to chant Wenger’s name, they will get him the three more years.”
Would a new contract for Wenger provoke more intense protests?