For all of the Arsenal fans that were hoping to see the club part company with our long serving manager Arsene Wenger at the end of this season this will not come as good news. And for those of us that were clinging to the hope that we might even be able to get rid of the major shareholder Stan Kroenke’ and that the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov might take over and make the big changes being called for it is even worse.
Because The Mirror has reported recent comments from Usmanov that suggest he is even more committed to keeping the Frenchman in charge than Kroenke is, if that is even possible. Whereas in the past the second biggest Arsenal shareholder has been critical of the club’s transfer policy and even though he was not directly blaming the manager you got the idea he wanted to shake things up, that seems to have changed.
Usmanov actually backed the way that the club was being run at the moment and also suggested that it would be madness if Arsenal were to get rid of such an important figure as the Prof before he was ready and basically confirmed the idea that Wenger would decide his own exit strategy as well as the identity of the man that would eventually replace him.
The Russian said, “Arsenal’s results are stable. They are always among the leaders of the English Premier League. This is a good and large sports business project, and I am pleased with it.
“The only thing is that today such situation occurred, like in any sport, there are ups and downs. The club must retain its major symbol and main asset – manager Arsene Wenger.
“Failures have been haunting Arsenal for many years now, they cannot become the EPL champions. This has led to some discontent with Wenger’s position as a manager.
“I believe that Arsene Wenger is a great coach, and Arsenal has to give him the opportunity to plan the succession process and leave his legacy when he deems it necessary.
“It is very important for the football club to maintain the principles that were established by those people who created its victories. Arsenal needs Arsene Wenger.”
So there you have it Gooners. You can stop hoping for Usmanov to take over and get rid of Wenger.