A few days ago the Gunners Legend Sol Campbell had his say in the media about the current situation at Arsenal and the club’s managerial affairs.
Since the close of the season and the signing of Granit Xhaka the majority of fans seem to be back on Wenger’s side. However rewind to this time last month and many were calling for Wenger to get the axe at the end of the season. Although what seems to be a bigger split than the In Or Out European Union Referendum, Arsene Wenger seems to have secured his role as Arsenal manager for at least another season.
Officials at the club highlighted that they are not afraid to sack Wenger, despite many believing that Wenger’s reign over Arsenal will only come to an end when he says so. It’s an opinion that I believe in and that doesn’t mean that it’s the right approach to take, but I think it’s the approach that club management officials have taken, in regards to decisions over Wenger’s future in the past.
That opinion also seems to be the view of Ex-Gunner and Arsenal legend Sol Campbell, who thinks that Wenger deserves much more respect than what he gets at the club and that he will only leave the helm when he decides it’s time to move on.
Campbell told the Guardian: “Everyone’s got to realise how much he’s done for Arsenal. He revolutionised the club. Yes, everyone wants to win the Premier League and Champions League. It takes time. He’s done incredibly well for the amount of money he’s spent – look at Man United, who have spent £250m in two years and have only gone sideways. It’s not easy at all. Arsenal and Arsène will know when it’s time to move on. It’ll happen naturally, and that’s how it should be because he has given so much to the club.”
I don’t entirely disagree with Campbell’s opinion and I do think that when Wenger realises he cannot take this club any further, then he will not be afraid to make the call and end his managerial association with Arsenal football club. The real question is, should Wenger have already realised that already or can he still take us to another major honour?
Le Prof is in his 20th year at Arsenal and so any change will take some time getting used to that’s for sure, but the plunge has to be taken at some point. I believe that Wenger himself is considering whether he has a future beyond this upcoming season, so I can see him trying to go all out and go out on a high. After the 2016/17 season is concluded I think Wenger will come to the decision it’s time to move on, regardless if he wins major honours or not.
I can only hope that he decides to take a position upstairs at the club after he leaves as manager, because the man really does deserve the utmost respect for what he has achieved, not just in honourable success but financial success as well.
By AH