Arsene Wenger suggests Arsenal departure timing ‘not my decision’

Speaking at a press conference yesterday (Wednesday) Wenger appeared, at first, to simply be discussing the timing of the announcement. “And for the rest I’ve spoken about it already”.

Premier League campaigners Arsenal welcome Atletico Madrid to the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League semi final encounter on Thursday, April 26.

“Honestly it’s not something which will stop me doing what I am doing at the moment”.

They don’t make it entirely clear this is their own information, but they don’t say otherwise so we’d have to assume it is. “At the moment I’m just focused on that”.

“You are never sure if you do the right thing”, he said.

“Somebody like Luis Enrique, who has got the experience of managing a big club like Barcelona coming in and putting his stamp on the club could be good, but there’s no one stand-out candidate for me”.

“I am always going to have a deeper relationship with Arsenal“. I had one day at the factory and then I was in China and then I was in the States.

Alexandre Lacazette has been in exceptional form lately, and fans will hope it continues during the Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid match in the Europa League. The Gunners could ride a wave of emotion all the way to Lyon on May 16 and help end the Frenchman’s reign on a glorious note. People want to know what the future is about, for me that is completely normal.

Marseille and Red Bull Salzburg will contest the other Europa League semi-final and the prospect of facing either club in the final will not have Gunners fans trembling.

That, of course, would require him taking over another Champions League-calibre club – possibly as soon as next season.

“Is there a ideal goodbye?”

“I don’t want this to be perceived that I want to go, because I don’t want to leave”.

“You wouldn’t have that in a national side. and I think he would rather be a club manager”. This group of players deserve something special. David Dein, the former Arsenal vice-chairman, has said it’s like “a star has dropped out of the sky”.

As far as the Premier League is concerned, however, United can only aim to consolidate their second spot, given Manchester City clinched the title with five games to go. I want to wish him all the best. “It would be a little bit of icing on the cake to see the manager lift the trophy”.