Wenger to extend Arsenal contract: The case for and against

Arsenal autopsy: Wenger must go after Bayern Munich rout

8 March

Trailing 5-1 from the first leg of their last 16 Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich, Arsenal were expected, at the very least, to put up a fight for the sake of their fans.

They appeared willing in the first half, but following the dismissal of Laurent Koscielny early in the second the Gunners suffered the ultimate indignity as they were hung, drawn and quartered in their own back yard, losing once again by the same score.

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To coin a phrase: To lose one European match 5-1 can be regarded as a misfortune, to lose two looks like carelessness.

Such scorelines are not uncommon in the Champions League - Leicester City and Celtic both shipped five or more goals in group stage matches. But thrashings are usually inflicted on European interlopers such as Rostov, Legia Warsaw or Club Brugge. Big beasts of Arsenal's size are supposed to dish them out, not receive them.

Unsurprisingly, the reaction has been merciless. Ian Wright on BT Sport said the club was enduring the "worst period" of its history, while Rio Ferdinand called the result "embarrassing", a generous verdict in the circumstances.

Last night's performance amounted to a "stain on the name of a famous club", says Henry Winter of The Times. "This felt more than a rout, this felt fin de siecle.

"Change is clearly required at Arsenal. They were drifting but now are listing. [Manager Arsene] Wenger's position is untenable. The manager who has failed to combat the decline from the Invincibles to the Ineffectuals should step down in the summer, having sloped out of the Champions League in the round of 16 for the seventh successive season and, adding statistical shame, the highest aggregate defeat by an English side in Europe."

There is near unanimous agreement at the Daily Mail. Ten out of 11 of the paper's football writers say it is time for the Frenchman to go. Dominic King is the only voice of dissent, but he accepts that a pro-Wenger opinion is "increasingly difficult to defend".

There was an "inescapable feeling of finality" about the result, says Phil McNulty of the BBC, and Wenger "stood in isolation and desolation" on the touchline.

"Few nights could have been more chastening than this one for the man who has known such glory, but who now may be contemplating the end of the road," adds the writer.

"Wenger was not subjected to widespread rebellion or mutiny inside the stadium, but there were ominous signs that can often be used as indicators that a manager's future has reached its defining moment." Chief among them would be the rows of empty seats inside the stadium.

Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph agrees. "Wenger is in increasingly sad danger of exiting amid a cocktail of both apathetic and furiously frustrated fans," he says.

"If this is to be Arsene Wenger's 184th and last Champions League match then it is not a relatively small pre-match protest that should represent the defining image but rather the large numbers of empty red seats. They were evident before a ball had even been kicked and, by the time Bayern had completed an aggregate 10-2 humiliation, the stadium was largely deserted."

Wenger not interested in Barcelona - but could quit Arsenal

3 March

Arsene Wenger says he is not interested in taking over as manager of Barcelona and has made it clear he would prefer to still be in charge of Arsenal next season.

However, he has yet to decide his future and the uncertainty is causing problems at the Emirates.

The Gunners boss is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to make up his mind over an extension.

Consequently, following the announcement that Luis Enrique is to stand down as Barcelona coach this year, Wenger has emerged as a potential replacement at the Spanish club.

"Although Jorge Sampaoli is emerging as the most likely successor to Luis Enrique at Barcelona, Wenger was approached for the job previously back in 2001 and has turned down numerous other opportunities to leave Arsenal, including a recent £30m-a-year offer from China," says the Daily Telegraph.

"Wenger will not retire and still wants to stay at what he calls the 'club of my life' new season [sic] but friends believe that he is currently minded to leave unless Arsenal produce a strong finish to the season," it adds, saying the Frenchman is "very conscious of the huge divide among fans about his future".

Wenger reaffirmed on Wednesday that he has not yet made a decision over his future. But the uncertainty is starting to affect the Gunners, says Matt Hughes of The Times, who writes that "Arsenal’s attempts to plan for next season are being thwarted by uncertainty".

Arsenal's primary concern is the managerial situation and "all other aspects of the club’s footballing business are on hold pending Wenger’s decision", continues the journalist. "There will be no resumption of the on-off contract talks with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who will both enter the final 12 months of their existing deals this summer, until Arsenal’s managerial situation has been resolved, while the club’s transfer plans are also being stymied by the confusion."

The news from Barcelona only muddies the water still further, as there is now a concern that the club could move for one of the managers being lined up as a possible replacement for Wenger.

Last week, Metro reported that Juventus boss Massimo Allegri, regarded as a potential successor to Wenger, was lined up to take over from Enrique even before his departure was confirmed.

Arsene Wenger rule sout move to Chinese Super Leage if he quits Arsenal

23 February

Arsenal fans hoping that Arsene Wenger will disappear over the horizon at the end of the season are set to be disappointed after the veteran boss reportedly ruled out a move to the Chinese Super League.

The Gunners boss is under unprecedented pressure after another frustrating season, with the club out of the title race and being thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week.

Calls have been growing for him to stand down after 20 years in charge. However, Wenger has refused to say whether he will extend his stay at the Emirates when his contract expires at the end of the season - although he has made it clear that quitting the Gunners would not be the end of his managerial career.

In a defiant press conference last week following his side's surrender in Munich, Wenger insisted he would still be managing next season.

He said: "No matter what happens, I will manage next season, whether it’s here or somewhere else. That's absolutely for sure."

The Daily Mail says that has prompted speculation the 67-year-old could be lured to one of football's emerging markets.

"The Chinese Super League have already made discrete overtures about adding Wenger to their high-profile roster of managers that already includes Manuel Pellegrini, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Andre Villas-Boas," reports the paper, adding that Wenger has also attracted interest "from cash-rich clubs in the Middle East".

Wenger is one of Europe's best-paid managers, with a deal worth £8m a year, says the Mail. He is unlikely to earn that much at another European club, but could get much more if he moved to China or the Middle East.

Despite that, Wenger would "prefer to manage in one of Europe's top leagues if he leaves north London at the end of the season", the paper says: "The Frenchman's competitive nature means remaining in Europe is a far more appealing option."

Despite Arsenal's troubles, Wenger is still well regarded on the continent, says the Daily Express, which claims the manager was under consideration to take over at Real Madrid in 2015, before Zinedine Zidane was appointed.

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Why Arsene Wenger's Arsenal divorce could turn nasty

17 February

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal divorce could turn nasty after the under-fire manager insisted he would still be managing next season, either at the Emirates or elsewhere, effectively ruling out the possibility of a smooth transition of power this summer.

Speaking at a press conference following "one of the most turbulent weeks of his two-decade tenure as Gunners boss", as the BBC terms it, Wenger made it clear his managerial career would not come to an end any time soon and issued a pointed reminder to Arsenal fans hoping his departure would lead to an upturn in their fortunes.

"No matter what happens I will manage for another season. Whether it's here or somewhere else, that is for sure," said the 67-year-old, who has come under unprecedented pressure since his side were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

"I am used to the criticism... I am in a public job and I have to accept that, but I have to behave with my values," he added.

"Even if I go, Arsenal will not win every single game in the future. It is not like before I arrived Arsenal had won the European Cup five times."

The Gunners are believed to have drawn up a list of possible replacements and the Daily Mirror reports the board will ask for Wenger's advice on a replacement if he does decide to leave.

However, "he will not be asked to nominate his successor", says the paper. What's more, the club wants a "clean break" when Wenger leaves, "with the possibility of him moving upstairs already ruled out".

It appears Arsenal are desperate to avoid the same problems that Manchester United experienced, when Sir Alex Ferguson chose David Moyes as his successor and then became a fixture in the directors' box as his successor's shortlived reign unravelled.

But it could lead to a different set of challenges.

"The stance of the Arsenal board seems to throw out the window the suggestion of bringing in Eddie Howe from Bournemouth with Wenger as a mentor-figure," notes the Daily Express.

"Instead it opens the door for one of Europe’s top up-and-coming talents, with Max Allegri of Juventus, Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim and Bundesliga pair Roger Schmidt and Thomas Tuchel top of their hit-list."

But how will Arsenal function if Wenger does leave? He is more than just a manager, says Ed Malyon of The Independent. "The Frenchman's role is more akin to a founding partner and CEO... Replacing that can't simply happen overnight.

"Arsenal, on an institutional level, need time to manage the devolution of power from one 67-year-old man to a number of successors in different roles. The ideal scenario would surely see Wenger stay in a senior post to lend a helping hand but he would need to tread a very delicate line with the new head coach replacing him on the touchline."

But it seems the only way to do it is to persuade him to stay on as manager for one more season - a decision that could prompt civil war in the stands, where fans have already come to blows.