Image: Getty at independent.co.uk
Wenger is the longest serving manager in the Premier League by some distance. He has been at the helm of Arsenal since 1996 and has staked his reputation as the Gunners’ most successful manager. During his tenure in North London he has picked up three league titles, six FA Cups, six Community Shields and a host of individual honours.
The Gunners are also the only Premier League team to go a whole season unbeaten – the ‘Invincibles’ of 2004 were undoubtedly Wenger’s best side. Though, unfortunately for Wenger, it was 2004 when he last won the league title and fans are growing tired, despite the fact he has won two FA Cups in the past three years.
The Emirates faithful seem to be losing confidence in their skipper and growing tired of finishing fourth every season. Many are also claiming that the club has been left behind by their big-spending rivals.
The sad truth is that many Arsenal fans want to see Wenger gone. They concede that he’s a club legend but insist he can do no more.
Eddie Howe is currently the bookies favourite to succeed the Frenchman, and with the 5-1 defeat to Bayern earlier this week, those odds are only likely to shorten.
Bookies have Wenger at 8/1 currently, which puts him in third place in the so-called Premiership ‘Sack Race’. Unfortunately, at this rate, he is also more likely to be lined up as many tipsters bet of the day unless Arsenal can turnaround some quick League wins in the coming weeks.
Admittedly, the 67-year-old has done a fine job with an Arsenal side that lacks quality where its rivals thrive, but perhaps it’s time for a change at the club.
In recent games, several “Wenger out” banners have been seen at the Emirates and in the away end when Arsenal are on the road. The signs have caused tension between fans who seem to be divided into a pair of “Wenger in”, “Wenger out” brigades.
Image: skysports.com
The infamous Arsenal Fan TV has also raised questions about Wenger’s ability, or lack thereof, to take the club forward. The interviews which are uploaded on YouTube, take place after a match in which a number of regular faces deliver their thoughts and provide analysis of the game. Sadly, for Wenger, these thoughts are usually about his departure, but pundit Gary Neville has recently criticised fans and the show and recently offered to stand in discuss the Arsenal manager.
But what can Wenger do? The league title is pretty much out of sight, as is the League Cup. The only other competition on offer is the FA Cup which, realistically, is not going to do much to silence his critics. That said, a fourth-place finish and a piece of FA Cup silverware would, at the very least, be a nice way to end Wenger’s reign in North London.
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