Arsene Wenger may be approaching the final few games of his Arsenal management career now, with just three Premier League matches and an FA cup final left for this season. The boss’ remains uncertain as to whether he will sign a new deal and although most rumours will suggest a stay may be on the cards, there is every possibility this could be his final month in charge.
I think it’s safe to say that most Arsenal fans will want Wenger to leave in the summer, with the club surely having achieved its maximum under Wenger now. The protests and media attention may cause the Frenchman to consider an exit, even if he isn’t thinking of one, but according to the Gunners Chiefs, it seems they have no intention of changing anything about Wenger’s position this summer.
A report in the Daily Telegraph will today leave most fans disappointed in the sense that it is understood that Ivan Gazidis and the board members have suggested there will be no restriction in power to Arsene Wenger this summer. From that we can understand two things. Firstly that they have no intention of letting him go this summer and that he will be offered a new contract. Of course he may not accept but that wouldn’t be the Chiefs forcing Wenger out. Or secondly, the consideration to ‘promote’ Wenger to the Director of Football role at Arsenal would mean that nothing really changes in regards to his influence at the club, but of course he will no longer handle first team duties.
Wenger shunted the idea of becoming a Director of Football this week, after it was mentioned to the boss in a media press conference. Wenger stated that he did not understand the role and thus had no intention of filling a position where he has no idea what would be expected of him. In this position I believe he would become an ambassador figure for the club and the influence he could have in the operational management of Arsenal would remain relatively high. Wenger would have a lot of influential power, but of course he would no longer be in charge of first team duties. My only concern is that I think Wenger will still have such an impact at the club in this position, that he would consequently end up influencing the decisions of the first team and its manager, much like how Sir Alex Ferguson initially still had an influence in the United dressing room the season after he was no longer manager of the football club.
It is a very concerning period for the Arsenal fans who desire change, especially as the weeks go by and we still haven’t had any formal statement from the club. A lot will ride on the end of the season performances and only then do I think Wenger and the board will sit down to discuss the terms going forward.
By AH