Neil Henderson, BBC Home Deputy Editor has reported via Twitter that tomorrow’s headlines will be based on Arsene Wenger, who will step down as Arsenal manager after 19- years in charge, in little over 19 months.
The record FA Cup winning boss is by far the Premier League’s longest reigning manager, with second place Eddie Howe in charge of Bournemouth for only 3 years, 16 years off the Frenchman.
Wenger has been the face of Arsenal for so long, and during his time the fans of the club have seen the club transform massively, with bigger and better signings, a brand new stadium, as well as countless pieces of silverware despite a 9-year trophy-less run.
However, the Premier League, and Gunners legend has reportedly decided to set a date at long last, June 2017 (at the end of the 2016/17 season) after over 1000 games at the north London club.With Wenger being one of the key factors in Arsenal’s success and improvement over the years, the fans, board, and even the players may be left wondering what’s next for the club.
Speaking at the club’s AGM on Thursday morning, Wenger said he hopes to leave his legacy on the club.
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.
The French boss is a huge reason why Arsenal are still a huge club in both England and Europe. With a total of three Premier League titles, a record number of six FA Cup’s, five Community Shield’s, not to mention picking up the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award 14 times and Manager of the Season three times, a 58% win percentage in the Premier League after 722 games as well as managing Arsenal to a top four finish in the League, securing Champions League football every season he’s been in charge, whilst moving across north London from Highbury to a modern £390m stadium, proves Wenger certainly won’t be easy to replace.
Top players in the ilk of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal’s most expensive players in the club’s history, moved to Arsenal for one of the main reasons – to play under Wenger. Bearing huge influence on everyone surrounding the club, the person who walks into the dressing room after the Frenchman will have a tough act to follow.
