LONDON, April 20th - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will leave the club at the end of season, the Frenchman said in a statement issued by the Premier League club on Friday. "After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel that it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season," he said. (Reuters) The BBC have also confirmed the reports. “I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years, and I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special. I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high." - Arsène Wenger. Majority owner Stan Kroenke said: “This is one of the most difficult days that we have ever had in all of our years in sport. One of the main reasons that we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsène has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched. “Arsène has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude. Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League () is an exceptional record. He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision of how the game can be played. “We have high ambitions to build on Arsène’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game. “We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions of fans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.” I wonder how long it'll be before some of the Arsenal fans regret having their wishes come true, the ungrateful bastards. I'd love him to 'go out on a high' by winning the Europa League next month
"Majority owner Stan Kroenke said: “This is one of the most difficult days that we have ever had in all of our years in sport. One of the main reasons that we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsène has brought to the club on and off the pitch" I doubt Stan Kroenke knows what shape a football is
Well the Spanish waiter has polished that turd as much as he ever can/will, so it makes sense for him to do a runner at the end of this season, doesn't it Mind you, I expect that Arsenal will be looking for somebody that's a damn sight better, and higher profile, than him
Two thirds of my life he's been Arsenal manager, and it's going to be strange not having him around. I think it was time to step down because if you're going backwards yearly and the fans no longer want you, what's the point of continuing. It'll be interesting to see if the new manager spends his way up the table because there's long been the conception that Wenger didn't like to spend, but the truth might be that they don't really have the money available.
5-10 years too late. Thomas Tuchel the likely successor. Would be a huge blow for the Mags though if they went for Benitez. You'd think his ego would want 1 last big job before he retires
Wenger/Benitez might swap clubs the mags would have him surely, when we get back up we need them type of managers and £200m.
They need a little chaos. Simeone would have been the perfect man but can't see him leaving A.Madrid for Arsenal in this situation
We can be sure that Arsene didn't see this coming. As for the Arsenal Fans, they seem to have got what they collectively wished for. IF they consider the examples around the league, where this has happened, they might not be quite so happy.
