It’s well documented how throngs of Arsenal fans passionately hope to see Gunners Manager Arsene Wenger removed from power. Many want it done as soon as possible. One former England and Premier League veteran, Warren Barton, has joined the chorus calling for Wenger’s dismissal.
Speculation surrounding Arsenal regime change ran rampant in the wake of Arsenal’s 5-1 destruction at the hands of Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie.
Warren Barton, now a pundit for FOX Soccer, said this:
“That performance for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger now should walk. 3e because that performance was inept.
The first 10 years when he came into English football has been brilliant. And I don’t want to see him go like this. I wanted to do like when Fergie left. He went out on a high.
Wenger has to go, for the benefit of Arsenal Football Club. Not him, what’s right for the club.”
However, he won’t likely ever be dismissed, as the board at the North London club think quite highly of him. If and when he leaves, he’ll have a say in it, and it’ll be a “mutual decision” between him and the club Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis said in October.
We learned Thursday that Wenger won’t be going anywhere, if indeed he is moving on, until he sees out his contract. Wenger’s deal expires at the end of this season, his 21st year at the Emirates.
Warren Barton didn’t stop there however. He believes the Gunners might fall out of the Premier League’s top four as well. (Surely that will settle his fate?)
Barton, a veteran of several clubs, including Newcastle United, Derby County, Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers, added this:
“Patrick Vieira and Henry, must be looking at this … and be be shaking. They must want to rip the TV to pieces because that’s not what Wenger’s been about. The last 10 years, it has to stop.
“They might drop out of the top four. This is probably the last time Arsenal fans will see them in the Champions League.”
According to the BBC, Wenger is staying on until the end of the season. The report states:
Despite Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first-leg thrashing at Bayern Munich, there is currently no prospect of Wenger leaving before the summer.
It is expected the decision for him to stay or leave will be mutual between the club and the Frenchman, 67.
Wenger, in charge since 1996, was offered a new deal earlier this season.
The #WengerOut crowd has been loud and proud for a couple years already, and they certainly were back with a vengeance on social media this week (understandably so).
However, no matter what the result(s), Arsene Wenger is still expected to both remain in power through May and to have the final call on his future together with the club board. Thus, win or lose between now and the summer, he’s here to stay and we may not know his fate until then.
Stay tuned.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and Bold, contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication, CGTN America, WGN CLTV News and KOZN.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud and YouTube