Arsenal fearful of losing Arsene Wenger at the end of the season
Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League title evaporated last weekend after they suffered a very disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea and following the result, many disgruntled fans have called for manager Arsene Wenger to step down.
Despite the protest from the fans though, the Arsenal board have made it clear that they want to keep hold of Wenger beyond the end of the current campaign and have reportedly offered him a new two year deal.
In an update to the situation, the Daily Telegraph have now reported that Wenger will only make his decision once the campaign concludes and there is a strong possibility that the Frenchman will walk away if Arsenal finish outside the top four this term.
Wenger calls for unity, urges fans to follow Tottenham’s lead
Arsenal’s campaign has been plunged into crisis mode after they fell 12 points behind in the race for the Premier League title and there is a grave danger of the Gunners’ campaign petering out once again like it has done so many times in recent years.
Despite the negativity though, Wenger is calling for calm and has now urged everyone associated with the club to unite to get their season back on track.
The veteran manager told Arsenal’s official website, “It’s an interesting week because it’s a good test at an important moment of the season and it’s as well a good opportunity to show what we are made of and to deal with what matters to us. We have a big fight in the Premier League, a big fight in the Champions League, with a big game coming up, and we still have the FA Cup as well.
“We want to do well in all three competitions and that’s as well why it’s important that we focus, respond and get our fans behind the team, because this is an important and very sensitive part of the season - and we have to respond to disappointment together.
“Our fans have been consistent and have a high level of expectation, as I have as well. But I don’t feel it is absolutely clear. You cannot be a fan until last Tuesday and not be a fan anymore and not be behind the team this Saturday, it doesn’t make sense.
“We fight with Man United, Man City, Liverpool - they have big expectations as well and big histories. We are in a fight there, we absolutely have to be united or we have no chance to do it.”
The defeat against Chelsea has also caused a lot of unrest among the fans and in response to the growing pressure; Wenger has urged the unhappy supporters to follow the lead of Tottenham by sticking with the team even during difficult times.
He continued, “You have Tottenham, everyone is in the fight and everyone is behind their team. We have to do exactly the same, even if we had two disappointing results.
“I want the fans to be behind the team. But at the same time, I am not fool enough not to know that the first priority is us and our dynamic inside the team that will create and facilitate the support of our fans. That is down to the quality of our performance.”
Welbeck and Elneny in contention to start against Hull
Arsenal put up a very meek display during their 3-1 defeat against Chelsea last weekend and it is now widely expected that manager Arsene Wenger will be making a host of changes to his squad for the encounter against Hull City this weekend.
Wenger has been boosted by the return of Danny Welbeck to full fitness and Mohamed Elneny from the African Cup of Nations and it is believed that the duo is in contention to start on Saturday, with Francis Coquelin and surprisingly, Mesut Ozil, likely to be dropped.