Wenger to extend Arsenal contract: The case for and against

Arsene Wenger: Contract claim aims to whip up Arsenal unrest

04 May

One of Arsene Wenger's chief critics has attempted to whip up sentiment against the Arsenal manager by claiming he is on the verge of signing a new three-year contract.

Piers Morgan made the claim on Talksport, after planned protests against Wenger during Saturday's game at the Emirates fell flat, with fans chanting his name as a sign of support.

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The incident highlighted the growing split in the fanbase over the manager's future.

Wenger has expressed his concern over the sometimes poisonous atmosphere at the Emirates this season and accused an unnamed critic with "a personal agenda, a big ego" of spreading dissent.

The 66-year-old has one year left on his current contract and many expect him to leave at the end of next season, after 20 years in charge.

Morgan, however, is not so sure.

"Wenger, I know for a fact, has a new three-year contract on his desk," he told Talksport. "He is, as he normally does, trying to strategically play the fans and the media to a point where he can legitimately sign that new £25m contract.

"If fans continue to chant Wenger's name, they will get him the three more years."

He argued that another three year spell under Wenger would be a barren one and argued that Leicester City's Claudio Ranieri should be the man to take the Gunners forward.

Arsene Wenger calls out Piers Morgan over Arsenal fan revolt

29 April

Arsene Wenger has risked more conflict with disgruntled Arsenal fans ahead of their penultimate home game of the season against Norwich, by accusing the Gunners' fickle support of undermining their title hopes and rounded on some of his more high profile critics.

The Gunners boss claimed that his side had been forced to play their home games in a "very difficult climate" this season and said that much of the unrest in the stands had been caused by attempts to "manipulate" the fans.

He even appeared to call out one of his most persistent critics, who he believes has been attempting to whip up discontent. "Apart from an agenda, a personal agenda, a big ego, there's not a lot behind it," he said.

There is little doubt who he was talking about, says the Daily Telegraph. "Wenger did not mention names, although the clear suspicion is that he was referring to Piers Morgan, an Arsenal fan who has been relentlessly calling for him to leave over recent years."

The breakfast TV presenter was at it again on Friday, taking to Twitter to condemn the Frenchman.

Former players Paul Merson and Ian Wright have also called on the Arsenal boss to stand aside, notes ESPN, although Wenger declined to elaborate when asked who he was talking about.

Raking over another failed Premier League campaign Wenger claimed his side's away form was good enough to win the title, but said that their chances had been undermined by a lack of home support.

He urged the Gunners faithful, who are planning more protests at the Emirates on Saturday, to get behind the team. But he "risked further condemnation" by suggesting they should follow the example of Liverpool fans, says the Daily Mail.

Wenger wants the fans to develop a "sense of perspective amid growing discontent at a trophyless season", explains the paper.

However, the anti-Wenger brigade will make their feelings known by holding up placards in the 12th and 78th minutes to highlight the fact that Arsenal have not won the league for 12 years.

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss faces fan boycott but won't quit

20 April

Thousands of Arsenal season ticket-holders will boycott the game against West Brom on Thursday night in protest at another season of underachievement.

But under-pressure manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated his intention to see out his contract, which runs until the end of next season.

"I respect always my contract," he snapped at journalists during a press conference.

However, Wenger also admitted that "disillusionment" among the fans was on the increase. "I want our fans to be happy and when they are not, it affects me," he said. "You do not want to play in a negative environment."

Supporters were "free" not to attend matches, he said, but suggested the unusual scheduling of the game on a Thursday night would be more of a problem than the team's recent performances.

About 2,500 season ticket-holders have made their seats at the Emirates available to other members for the game, says ESPN. In an unusual move, several hundred tickets have been put up for general sale by the club.

Arsenal have won only five out of 14 Premier League games this calendar year and have won 21 points out of a possible 42 in 2016. London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have taken 33 points from 45 in that time, one fewer than league leaders Leicester.

The anger of fans is palpable, says David Hytner, of The Guardian. "The sense of frustration and disillusionment is clear, and it has been easy to feel the tension at many recent games," he says.

A growing number want Wenger out, says ESPN, and "fan anger could continue until the end of the season, even if Arsenal hold off Manchester City to finish third and guarantee Champions League football for yet another season".

Arsene Wenger: Is Mancini being groomed as new Arsenal boss?

30 March

Reports about the future of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger range from claims he is set to extend his tenure as Arsenal boss for a further three years to rumours that Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has been approached to take over.

The truth could lie somewhere in the middle, with a growing number of calls for the manager to begin the process of grooming a replacement if he is to stand down at the end of next season, as expected.

The vocal "Wenger out" brigade at the Emirates may welcome reports in Italy, picked up by the Daily Express, which suggest "the Gunners have made contact with the entourage of Mancini".

The Italian media also claims Inter have identified Frank de Boer and Diego Simeone as replacements if their current manager leaves for Arsenal this summer.

"The 51-year-old won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2012, and is said to be interested in a return to the England," says the Express.

Whether he gets his wish this summer remains to be seen, particularly in the light of claims that Wenger is going nowhere. "Reports have emerged claiming Arsenal are set to offer manager Arsene Wenger a new three-year contract," Metro boldly declares.

The paper offers little evidence to back up its claim, but its sports writer, Guy Clarke, argues that with a new generation of youngsters emerging and plenty of money to spend, "Wenger could be gearing up for one last trophy surge".

A third scenario is presented by Tom Adams of ESPN. He says there is no doubt that Wenger will be in charge next season, "no matter which banners are flown in the Arsenal end and how much splenetic fury is imparted on Arsenal Fan TV".

However, when shareholder Alisher Usmanov last week backed the manager, he also urged him to think about who will take over.

Adams says he has a valid point: "The truth is that even if fans want Wenger out this summer, the club don't appear to be in a position to go about replacing him. Who would guide this process? Draw up a shortlist? Conduct the interviews? Ivan Gazidis and Stan Kroenke would oversee it, but could you trust them to get the appointment right? If Wenger goes, Arsenal lose their football brain."

Sir Alex Ferguson's anointment of David Moyes did not work at Manchester United, but if Wenger does intend to leave at the end of next season, he needs to think about his replacement, he adds.