There is no argument about it, Arsene Wenger has been Arsenal’s best-ever manager. Three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and season after season in the Champions League. However, since 2004, he has not won the Premier League, and judging by the last five years, it appears the Frenchman cannot take Arsenal back to the top. Many Arsenal fans are tired of him not spending in the transfer window, picking the wrong formations, playing players out of position, using the wrong tactics etc., and want him out.
The echoes of “Wenger out” have been heard very loudly among the Arsenal fan base this past season, and with Wenger’s contract due to expire this summer, many thought the club would take the bold step of letting the former-Monaco manager leave. Yours truly also believes it would be the right thing to do. In my humble opinion, I think time has caught up with Wenger, sadly, and that he should be relieved of his duties. Arsenal may have won the FA Cup, but failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League should have been enough to earn Wenger the sack.
Unfortunately, Arsenal fans may have to endure him for another two years at least. This is as reliable BBC journalist David Ornstein is claiming Arsenal have made the decision to renew Wenger’s contract for at least two more years. According to Ornstein, Arsene Wenger has all but agreed terms on a new two-year deal at the Emirates. This would take his reign at Arsenal to 22 years. The club is expected to make an official announcement after a board meeting today.
Wenger verbally agreed new 2yr contract with Kroenke at yesterday's meeting. Will be rubber-stamped by board today & announced tomorrow #AFC
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) May 30, 2017
With David Ornstein almost always spot on when it comes to Arsenal news, I hope if Wenger finally signs an extension, he goes all out in the transfer window and signs the right players for the club. Failure to do the right business in the summer transfer window won’t go down well with the fans.
What Wenger does in the transfer window this summer will go a long way in determining if he wants to right his wrongs or maintain status quo. Not spending on the right players this summer would be suicidal, especially coming after a season in which the club finished outside the top four for the first time in two decades.
But again, Arsenal have been woeful in the last five years, never mind the three FA Cup wins during that period. And despite that, Wenger has refused to change his strategy in the transfer window. Nothing points to him changing this summer, even after the disaster of this past season.
