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Rumours Say Wenger Told The Players He’s Leaving After Chelsea Loss
Rumours are gathering pace suggesting that Arsene Wenger could leave Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Firstly, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday morning that well-placed sources at the Emirates have indicated to them that the boss was giving serious consideration to his future after Saturday’s humiliation at Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman did appear to indicate the Chelsea match was a defining moment for both him and the club, and the newspaper suggests that Arsene is feeling the pressure after nine trophy-barren years and could be ready to call time on his Arsenal career.
Some journalists on Twitter then suggested they had heard whispers that something was going on behind the scenes at the Emirates following the news that Wenger had cancelled his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday’s game against Swansea.
Then came the BIG news, with Arsenal Action tweeting that Arsene told the players in the dressing room after the Chelsea game that he was leaving in the summer and asked them to play for him until the end of the season. Players were supposedly told not to use any social media networks but have let slip to family members, which could be how the news (if true) has leaked.
Here are the tweets:
Wenger told the players in the dressing room after the CFC game he is finished at the end of the season. Media blackout since then.
— Arsenal Action (@arsenalaction) March 23, 2014
AFC doing everything to get Arsene to change his mind. AW told the players to give everything for him from now until the end of the season
— Arsenal Action (@arsenalaction) March 23, 2014
Players been told not to speak to press or post anything suggestive on social media. However player have told family members about the news
— Arsenal Action (@arsenalaction) March 23, 2014
Arsene was apparently close to tears and told the players "play for me until the end of this season"
— Arsenal Action (@arsenalaction) March 23, 2014
Obviously this is all speculation at this point, and Arsenal Action are known to be anti-Arsene, but if there is anything in it I’m sure it will be in the newspaper before long.
Personally, I’m skeptical. I really don’t think Arsene would make a rash decision on his future immediately after a 6-0 loss. He’s an intelligent man and a procrastinator, he would have given himself time to think things over. Not make a quick decision like that.
But who knows. Maybe the Chelsea loss was the final straw for him and he realised he can’t take this squad any further. There’s got to be a reason he hasn’t signed his new deal yet….
What do you think? Would you be sad to see Arsene go? Or is it time for a change?
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