Arsene Wenger to leave Arsenal at the end of the season

Football

Fri April 20, 2018 · 7y ago

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he will be leaving Arsenal at the end of the season after 22 years in charge.

The 68-year-old arrived at Highbury in August 1996 and won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups - including doubles in 1998 and 2002.

Wenger signed a two-year deal last summer after winning the FA Cup but fans were still divided on him after they finished fifth in the Premier League - the first time Wenger had failed to secure a top four finish in his entire tenure at Arsenal.

This season, Arsenal are struggling again to keep up with the top four as they sit in fifth, with their only chance of a return to Champions League football coming if they can win the Europa League.

Among the early list of candidates to replace Wenger are German managers Thomas Tuchel and Joachim Loew along with former Gunners captain Patrick Vieira.

Wenger released a statement on the club's website when the shock news was revealed.

Wenger leaving Arsenal

Wenger says time is right to leave

“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season," said Wenger.

“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.

“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity. 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. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.

"My love and support for ever.”

Stan Kroenke on Wenger departure

Arsenal majority owner Stan Kroenke thanked Wenger for his service and his work in transforming the identity of the club.

"This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport," said Kroenke.

"One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch.

"Arsene 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.

"He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.

"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."

Wenger's best quotes

"I changed a few habits (of the players), which isn't easy in a team where the average age is 30 years. At the first match the players were chanting 'we want our Mars bars'. Then, at half-time I asked my physio Gary Lewin: 'Nobody is talking, what's wrong with them?' and he replied: 'They are hungry'. I hadn't given them their chocolate before the game. It was funny." - Wenger on implementing a new regime after his arrival at Highbury.

"Maybe one day people will realise that it's not so easy to stay at the top, as well as facing financial compulsories that you face at that level." - Wenger on success being relative.

"Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home." - Wenger in response to Sir Alex Ferguson's criticism over the way Arsenal went about winning the double in 2002.

"He's out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful. When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent." Wenger's response to being called a voyeur by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2005.

"We do not buy superstars. We make them." - Wenger on his player development and recruitment policy.

"I am not scared to spend money. If you go out with me one night, you will understand that." - Wenger on being coy in the transfer market.

"I tried to watch the Tottenham match on television in my hotel yesterday, but I fell asleep." - Wenger on keeping tabs on their north London rivals.

"Sometimes I see it (a foul by an Arsenal player), but I say that I didn't see it to protect the players and because I could not find any rational explanation for what they did." - Wenger on his famed tendency to 'miss' certain incidents.