We’ve seen managers get sacrificed for far less.
We’ve also seen them pay the biggest price for the slightest of slip-ups.
Still, when it comes to Arsenal and their unwithering faith in Arsene Wenger, common sense is losing its battle against the relentless decision to stick with a man who seems to have completely lost the plot.
With the latest developments in the North London club a question imposes itself:
What does it take for Arsenal to sack Arsene Wenger?
The question is even better formulated as What does it take for Arsene Wenger to take responsibility and leave Gunners? Both of these questions are likely to remain unanswered if recurring pattern from the last couple of seasons is about to repeat itself.
Despite the great uncertainty over his future at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger is unsurprisingly ready to stay with the Gunners as the Frenchman is said to be prepared to sign a new two-year contract with the Gunners. Arsenal board are said to have already tabled an offer and the club is just waiting for the right time to announce it. The timing, however, could not be worse.
Gunners’ top-four chances took a huge blow once again with their 3-0 loss at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace defeated Arsenal, reducing them to their seventh loss in last 12 games and putting them at risk of finishing the season without any European competition in their bag. Sitting sixth in the table, Arsenal are seven points behind Manchester City in fourth. The Gunners do have a game in hand on the Citizens and two even on Liverpool – who are nine points in front of them in third place.
Even though there is still time to turn the things around and squeeze inside the top four, Arsenal’s current form offers no guarantees that the North London club will be a part of Europe next term.
Arsenal have a game against relegation-threatened Middlesbrough next the one they are priced at 1/2 to win, but the fact that Arsenal last won an away game back in January offers no reason to feel optimistic.
With eight more games until the end the dilemma is evident.
The increasing pressure on Arsene Wenger to go could make things harder for a possible successor to turn the things around at this particular point. Still, an immediate sacking is never an option with Arsene Wenger who should show character and greateness the football world believes he possesses by accepting the fact that it is time for a change.
The world changes, Arsene Wenger doesn’t
The experienced French manager is an Arsenal legend and there is no denying it, but the past times and his incredibly rich legacy should not be used as a leverage any more. It is simple, football has evolved, but Arsenal appear to be standing in the same place for years now.
Wenger has arguably been the first one to introduce the exciting and visually appealing style of play to the British Isles, but the game has gone so much forward whereas the Frenchman himself appears to be making all the moves and decisions he used to make ten or even fifteen years ago. With no aces up his sleeve, the Frenchman is bare and exposed to the lashes.
The Arsenal boss did little to change or even alter his recruiting policy and his dubious selections during the last couple of transfer windows have brought nothing but disappointment for the Arsenal faithful.
His reluctance to dig deep in the pocket and spend money is understandable and commendable as it stands in defiance of the global economic trends that are taking over the football scene, but such an approach leaves Arsenal trailing in the wake of Europe and England’s biggest clubs who have recognized the need to invest big in order to win trophies.
Arsene Wenger has seemingly fulfilled his role at the Emirates.
He has created a financially stable system, helped the board achieve their economic goals while at the same time expanding the reputation of the London’s club. He’s helped build the rock-solid foundation and should now come to terms that it is time to let someone else take his place at the helm.
Someone who would elevate Arsenal past the recurrent pattern which sees Arsenal revel in title expectations at the beginning of each season, go through transfer department disappointments, settle for top-four finish as if it was the biggest prize of them all and ultimately leave an overwhelmingly bitter taste at the end of each and every season.
Someone like…Massimiliano Allegri?
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