Thursday’s feeble 3-0 loss to Manchester City, their second by the scoreline against Pep Guardiola in the space of four days, has served to strengthen the belief of key members of the Arsenal hierarchy that Wenger must go before the start of next season. “I’m of course very disappointed but I’ve experienced these situations before”, Wenger said.
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Senior Gunners players met on Tuesday, without Wenger, to discuss the team’s recent slide, with one player said to be close to tears as he explained that his kids had been asking him why Arsenal were so bad.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks dejected as his team is routed by Manchester City in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium in London on Thursday.
“Obviously it is not easy when you can not score a goal to give us extra energy”.
That means PSG ace Neymar, who picked up an injury at the end of the month, is the only player in the team who is now with a table-topping side.
Wenger’s side lie sixth, 10 points adrift of fourth place going into the latest round of games, with victory in the Europa League now appearing to offer the best chance of returning to the Champions League.
Critics have commented that Wenger’s legacy at the Emirates is being eroded due to a lack of competition with their big rivals, both for silverware and in transfer markets. I wouldn’t wanna talk to them after a performance like this, because they would come at me. He’s the captain and I don’t really know what this means at Arsenal.
City showed their more clinical touch in the final third again just before the half hour mark.
“Last season I also had pressure”, he added.
“You could see that tonight”. We were superior to Arsenal’s team.
City’s traveling support taunted Wenger and Arsenal fans throughout the match, chanting “Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay”, and “There’s only one Arsene Wenger”. Hughton however believes the experience of the Frenchman will help him through, and the sympathy of his fellow managers is not required.
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As hard a decision as it may be given Wenger’s past successes – including three league titles and seven FA Cup triumphs – more poor performances would leave them with little option but to bring the Frenchman’s 22-year tenure to an end. If you have the entire Real Madrid squad put on Arsenal shirts, Wenger will have their confidence ruined in 3 weeks.
