……. I know I have the reputation not to spend big money
Long standing Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has dropped a big hint that he will quit as Arsenal manager in 2017.
It came amid one of the angriest Annual General Meetings of Wenger’s 19 year reign, as Arsenal shareholders voiced their frustrations about a lack of summer spending and the club’s “embarrassing” results in Europe.
Gunners boss, Wenger’s current £8m-a-deal expires at the end of next season and he talked as if he was preparing to leave as he said he wants to leave a legacy for the next manager.
Wenger said: “I am resolute to commit absolutely until the last day of my contract to bring back big success to this club, and leave as well one day in a position where it can do even better when I leave.
“That is for me very important that I leave the club in the shape that the guy who comes after me can do better.
“The responsibility on my shoulders is much bigger. I know what it means for people. I know how sad people are when we don’t do well, I know how sad people are when we lose a game.”
One angry fan stood up and shouted his question as he challenged Arsenal on what he branded the “embarrassing” results in the Champions League after the loss to Monaco last season and also against Olympiakos two weeks ago.
Another shareholder questioned why Wenger was still in charge after 19 years while there were several questions about why the club had only spent £10m on Petr Cech in the summer despite having huge cash reserves.
Wenger added: “I agree with you that the performances were not good enough. But we have played over 150 games in Europe. You have picked three performances that were not good enough.
“But if you look at the percentages of games won in Europe you will see Arsenal are in the top five. You speak about Monaco, but they lost against Juventus who went onto the final but they never deserved to lose to Juventus. They deserved to beat Juventus.
“I accept you have to be over-critical when the performances are not good, but look at number of games Arsenal played in Champions League before I arrived and look after, and come back to me.
“We are not scared to spend the money – I know I have that reputation. We have shown in the last three years if the player has the quality, we spend the money.”