For years the Arsenal fans have been told that the continued reign of Arsene Wenger as the team’s manager, or not, would be decided by the man himself. The Arsenal board have clearly been happy to keep the Frenchman at the helm while he kept us in the Champions League with no money (relatively speaking) and the prof was always quick to say that he would only stay in the job as long as he felt that it was the best thing for the club in general.
This season that arrangement has begun to rankle more than ever with your average Gooner, and there are signs that the Arsenal board are finally starting to see that they may have to force Wenger out, or gently encourage him to resign which is more likely.
Earlier in the current campaign there were noises coming out of the club that Arsenal were offering the prof another two year contract if he wanted it and with Arsene saying that he would make the decision on his future in the next few months that seemed to be the case, but that is not the sense you get from our chairman’s latest comments reported by the Daily Mail.
A club statement released by Sir Chips Keswick said, ‘We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate.
‘We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.
‘Arsene has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way.’
Notice the change from ‘it’s up to him’ to ‘mutual’. Does this mean that the board thinks Wenger may want to stay beyond his welcome? Or that they have accepted the need for change? Or is it simply a statememnt intended to placate us and stop any protests until the end of the season?
Bob.