Arsene Wenger: Arsenal manager's future decided after FA Cup final

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Wenger future to be revealed after cup final

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his future at the club will be decided at a board meeting after the FA Cup final on 27 May.

The 67-year-old Frenchman has been with the Gunners since 1996 and his contract comes to an end this summer.

Wenger has faced numerous protests by Arsenal's own supporters this season, calling for him to quit as boss.

"There are many aspects to be discussed at a board meeting. One is what happens with the manager," he said.

"Of course I will be there. At the moment we should focus on the short term and what is going on on Sunday and in the cup final."

The north London side face Premier League champions Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, the Gunners' only hope of claiming a trophy this campaign.

But the season has been blighted by continuous questions surrounding his future at the club and banners from fans demanding he end his long association with the club. In their previous away game at Stoke, a plane was flown over the stadium which read "Wenger - out means out".

Arsene Wenger banner
Wenger faced further calls to leave the club last weekend

With one game remaining in the league, they face a battle to qualify for the Champions League as they are currently in fifth position, a point adrift of Liverpool in fourth and three behind third-placed Manchester City, albeit with an inferior goal difference of five.

Arsenal host Everton in their final game on Sunday (15:00 GMT), while Liverpool welcome relegated Middlesbrough to Anfield and Manchester City travel to Watford.

Wenger added: "We have to do our job, we are professionals and want to win. We are on a good run and all we can do is win our game on Sunday. After that what happens to me is less important.

"I am here to serve the club and the best way to do that is by winning the next game."

Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 having previously been with Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan

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72 comments

  • Comment posted by Saxcellray, at 16:12 19 May 2017

    A Premier League managerial legend that's gone stale.

    He's pedalled the old "top 4 on a budget" line for many a year now, but rivals are getting stronger and, now they have the money, he doesn't seem to have the ability to take them to the next level to stay ahead. Arsenal are in need of new ideas, and he doesn't have them. He should leave now in a dignified manner for the good of the club.

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 17:09 19 May 2017

    tommy c....Oh Tommy poor you,
    4th and cup probably 100/1 shout
    5th and cup ....50/1
    5th ......odds on
    you know what that means Tommy.....yep staying in on Thursday nights and watching Arsenil play some team in Kazakhstan and then getting beat by Brighton and Hove Albion the following Sunday.......Tommy do you remember Andre Villas Boas talking about a negative downward spiral.... its happening

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 16:52 19 May 2017

    wildphil................ Moyes is okay but personally I have a selection of managers that I would like to see at Arsenil
    Mark Hughes, Alan Pardew, Ian Holloway, Neil Warnock or my favourite former Arsenil player and Arseen student Remi Garde

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 17:22 19 May 2017

    If winning the FA Cup means Arseen stays, then I will be rooting for Arsenil, I am sure Cheesea fans would willingly forego doing the double to keep Arseen in his job, Arsenil and Arseen should not be separated, they are a match made in heaven

  • Comment posted by Chelmsford123, at 17:09 19 May 2017

    20. Posted by tommy c

    Mate the real problem is that, as your opening line states, Arsenal's main concern is whether you've had a better season than us. Says it all really.

  • Comment posted by plath, at 17:30 19 May 2017

    32. @thepoet

    Yeah I've heard it for the last 3/4 seasons now. I even said it a couple of those times.

    We're thankful for the memories, but that doesn't entitle him to be manager FOR LIFE. Which is actually what is occurring!

    It's his fault for any protests because he won't realise that his methods aren't working any more and he won't just GO.

    He's ruining his legacy ever year he stays

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 16:40 19 May 2017

    charlieboy............that's the quite a u turn, it was not that long ago you were telling everyone that Arseen was still the man for the job and should be Arsenil manager, what took you so long to see what was happening at Arsenil?

  • Comment posted by plath, at 16:29 19 May 2017

    The writing is on the wall, ArseneIN people need to wake up.

    10-2, not passed the last 16 since forever, best players leaving AGAIN, likely going to miss out on CL qualification, a second rate club in our own League even pipped by Tottenham. Arsene only knows how to manager a club in a sideways, not upwards.

    No more "jam tomorrow" for one of the richest clubs in the league. No more excuses!

  • Comment posted by ian, at 20:09 19 May 2017

    Today i got a job in the lifts at Canary Wharf my first customer was Mr Conti i said where are you going he said the top please numero uno, he got out at the top and my second customer was a Mr Wenger i said what number do you want he said the 5th floor and said to me but next time i will go even lower.

  • Comment posted by Duane Pipe, at 18:29 19 May 2017

    "27. I think I speak for everyone

    Dear Mr Wenger,
    Please, please stay.
    Thank you,
    All Tottenham fans everywhere."

    Well he has won far more than Tottnumb ever have or ever will, 3 league titles, 6 FA cups, 2 doubles and an invincible season, remind us when you've last won any of those, if you can even remember that far back ?

  • Comment posted by sal, at 17:19 19 May 2017

    Top 4 is not any team ambition to finish there it will at less attract good player other wise you will end up paying big money and big wages to get good players just like what Manchester United did with Paul pogba

  • Comment posted by U16605314, at 17:10 19 May 2017

    Dear Mr Wenger,

    Please, please stay.

    Thank you,
    All Chelsea and Tottenham fans everywhere.

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 16:12 19 May 2017

    If Arseen leaves, I will miss the plethora of excuses Arseen has in his armoury, classics like, we were a little jaded, because they played 2 games in 10 days, I think we were a little unlucky, after getting trounced, we were not focused, after getting trounced, we didn't play with commitment, after getting trounced, the referee missed an offside goal, but don't say that the other 4 were good

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 16:02 19 May 2017

    What's hilarious is Arseen trying to hang on using tactics stolen from other managers, wing backs and only 3 at the back......this is the man that only has one way of playing, but if he is really desperate he will try to park the bus, is now using wing backs to try and save his skin....... I have to say I do not want him to leave, he has given so much pleasure to rival fans over the years.. STAY

  • Comment posted by Hurricane, at 15:56 19 May 2017

    What future? his former captain says he cant coach his way out of a paper bag. I think that Arseen's failings are finally catching up with him.......non Goonies have known for many years that Arseen was winging it, Goonies laughed at us and said we know nothing.........the irony is, now it's the Goonies who want him to go and the non Goonies are desperate for him to stay.....IT'S A FUNNY OLD WORLD

  • Comment posted by ian, at 19:43 19 May 2017

    You dont get medals for 5th place but the players will get runner up medal's in 8 days time

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 18:17 19 May 2017

    Re J 22 & 39: Were You trying to introduce a bit of culture to the forum? Good try, but you failed. As Curtis said in 'The Taming of the Shrew' (Act 3, Scene 3) by Shakespeare, "Away, you three-inch fool!".

  • Comment posted by hammock, at 18:02 19 May 2017

    Can see the Wenger hokey cokey going on for a few more seasons to come at the Arsenal.

  • Comment posted by MrRight, at 17:42 19 May 2017

    Its actually refreshing to see the club stay silent during these wenger in/out melodrama... we have seen clubs back managers and 2 weeks they are out!

    One good thing I can say about the gooners!

  • Comment posted by J , at 17:05 19 May 2017

    Arsenal’s ROI, in terms of winning major titles in the past decade, is woeful. Wenger is Kroenke the moneyman’s ideal cat’s-paw. Their goals are perfectly aligned; Wenger keeps his job & ‘the moneyman’ keeps his golden goose.
    Look to Kroenke’s past; “…thereby hangs a tale…” Shakespeare's As You Like It

    ~XXI

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