Wenger to decide his future in the final days of the season?
Arsene Wenger is known for being rather secretive and a man of very few words when it comes to media speculation. Usually it’s something to do with transfer speculation, but a lot of the time this season it’s been heavily featured around his future with the club.
After twenty years with Arsenal, Wenger is once again approaching the end of his current contract at the club. Usually the Gunners officials are quick to offer the Frenchman a new long term deal. However this year it’s been suggested that this season could well be Wenger’s last with Arsenal. Over the course of the current season the opinion on whether Wenger will stay or go has changed and I think that’s largely because he himself isn’t too sure if his future lies with Arsenal beyond the summer of 2017.
Wenger spoke about the subject in his pre-match press conference, where he stated: ‘I always said that I will judge where I stand in spring and make my decisions then. And the club is free as well. It’s not because I am here a long time that I have any rights. We are both on the same boat.’
‘The club are happy and it will not affect planning. There are plenty of managers who arrived at the end of their contract. It happened to me before. I signed sometimes in March, April for longer contracts. So I don’t think it’s a problem.’
‘I worked everywhere I was until the last day of my contract with total commitment. That’s why maybe I can go back everywhere I was, because people respect that.’
Despite what you think of Arsene Wenger and whether you want him to leave or not, you cannot deny the man has loyalty and a lot of respect for Arsenal football club. He’s turned down some big offers from the likes of PSG, Real Madrid, AC Milan and the French national team in the past, all to continue his plan at Arsenal. Wenger is a developer and wants to see his plans out from start to finish. He admitted in the past that even during the difficult years of the Emirates move, Wenger had some very admirable offers from elsewhere, so I’m certain that he’ll see the season out for sure, no matter where we are at the end of the campaign.
In my opinion a lot is holding on whether he can win Arsenal a trophy this season, and what the desires are of the players. If the players have faith in his ability to take Arsenal forward I think he’ll stay and some will argue that the likes of Ozil will certainty want Wenger to remain at Arsenal. If the board believes in him, he will of course be offered a new contract. But I think if he fails to deliver on any trophy front this season, he will face another backlash from the fans and that could tip the scales.
Will Wenger be offered a new contract?
By AH