Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal player Paul Merson believes that Arsene Wenger’s time is up at Arsenal, and a managerial change is necessary at the club if they falter again this season.
Merson joined the faction of Gunners’ supporters who think that it is time to wave farewell to their iconic manager Arsene Wenger. The Englishman highlighted Wenger’s refusal to spend money in the transfer windows in particular, as well as the team’s current state of affairs in the Premier League.
“If Man City don’t win the league and Tottenham or Leicester do then Arsene Wenger has to go,” Merson said, according to the Sun.
“If you tell loyal Arsenal fans they don’t need new players at the start of the season and you don’t win the league in front of Leicester or Spurs then you can’t justify it.”
Merson also claimed that though Wenger had taken Arsenal to a top four finish in each of his 19 years in charge at the club, there were ‘thousands’ of managers who could do the same.
Wenger on the wane
Arsene Wenger has been a consistently good manager throughout his 19 seasons at the helm, ensuring a top four finish and Champions League qualification xeach season. Arsenal have never been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League group stage under Wenger either.
However, the Gunners last won the Premier League title 11 years ago, in the 2003-04 season. Since then, they have been perennial underachievers both domestically and in Europe. The fans have been demanding a title, and although Arsenal have come tantalizingly close to delivering in some seasons, they have faltered in the business end of the campaign.
Their lack of transfer activity has also infuriated the fans. Recent financial reports suggest that they have 100 million pounds to spend, yet Wenger insists that he will only spend money on the right player. All of these factors combined ensure that there is now a sizeable number of fans who want a new man in charge of the club.
Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal player Paul Merson believes that Arsene Wenger’s time is up at Arsenal, and a managerial change is necessary at the club if they falter again this season.
Merson joined the faction of Gunners’ supporters who think that it is time to wave farewell to their iconic manager Arsene Wenger. The Englishman highlighted Wenger’s refusal to spend money in the transfer windows in particular, as well as the team’s current state of affairs in the Premier League.
“If Man City don’t win the league and Tottenham or Leicester do then Arsene Wenger has to go,” Merson said, according to the Sun.
“If you tell loyal Arsenal fans they don’t need new players at the start of the season and you don’t win the league in front of Leicester or Spurs then you can’t justify it.”
Merson also claimed that though Wenger had taken Arsenal to a top four finish in each of his 19 years in charge at the club, there were ‘thousands’ of managers who could do the same.
Wenger on the wane
Arsene Wenger has been a consistently good manager throughout his 19 seasons at the helm, ensuring a top four finish and Champions League qualification xeach season. Arsenal have never been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League group stage under Wenger either.
However, the Gunners last won the Premier League title 11 years ago, in the 2003-04 season. Since then, they have been perennial underachievers both domestically and in Europe. The fans have been demanding a title, and although Arsenal have come tantalizingly close to delivering in some seasons, they have faltered in the business end of the campaign.
Their lack of transfer activity has also infuriated the fans. Recent financial reports suggest that they have 100 million pounds to spend, yet Wenger insists that he will only spend money on the right player. All of these factors combined ensure that there is now a sizeable number of fans who want a new man in charge of the club.