Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has offered public support to Arsène Wenger, who received widespread criticism after missing out on the Premier League title to Leicester City, a side that only Arsenal beat twice in a turbulent domestic campaign.
Wenger, failing to end Arsenal’s 12 year Premier League curse, falls under increasing pressure to deliver a major trophy. With the arrival of Pep Guardiola at the resourceful Manchester City and José Mourinho’s shock return to management in English football, the competition will be fiercer than ever in what could be Wenger’s last season at the club.
A tenure coming up to 20 years, Sky Sports have stated that Gazidis believes the club is preparing for the “long term” under Wenger’s stewardship after successfully qualifying for the UEFA Champions League an English record 20 times.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Gazidis alludes to the fact that the manager has always had the club’s best interests at heart and will only step away once he knows that the club are in a strong position.
He has always put the long-term health of the club first. He wants to hand over a football club, whenever that it is, that is in great shape. He views that as a massively important part of his legacy.
Gazidis also pointed out that, thanks to Wenger, the club are in a much stronger position than they were five years ago and so are now able to go and sign world-class players if and when they want them.
We can go and sign world-class players if and when the manager identifies them.
I know Arsene wouldn’t stay on if he thought the club wasn’t heading in a good direction and thought he wouldn’t be able to deliver what the fans want.
The Granit Xhaka deal demonstrates progress and a perhaps a sign that Wenger is going all out to compete with the big guns this year.
