Will be a very interesting day if he gets a new contract. If that happens the fan base will split permanently right down the middle and it will be 3 or 4 seasons of war, if he can even stick it out that long. A new contract is unimaginable and utterly pointless. If the board isn't completely oblivious they surely know this. In which case, what point is there for him to see out the existing contract? All he's doing is delaying things a year and probably making everything worse in the process. I can't think of a single reason why it would not be an advantage to the club for him to leave right now, today. Every minute he hangs on does more damage.
I can only hope that behind the scenes these discussions are already taking place. I doubt it. If they are happy to see him linger for another year then logically they are happy for him to stick around for as long as he wants. Of course they have said this much but my problem is I don't believe a single word any of them say. If he's not gone at the end of this season it answers most if not all the questions the fans have concerning Kroenke and the gang.
I say all this on the presumption football is still important to the club. But if we have moved past that it becomes obvious why they want the bloke to stick around for ever.
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Arsene Wenger, the only football manager that got paid 8 million quid to do nothing but sit on his arse..
I think part of the problem next season is that you really don't want a manager knowing that he will be gone the next season. Look at City in the league... the players aren't that interested because they know the manager wont be around next season. The squad they have they should be more embarrassed than we are at not being top. There are players who go on about being here because of Wenger. If everyone knows he is going to go then they could get twitchy too and look for a move and watch performances drop.
We need to avoid having a lame duck manager, Wenger needs to go this summer or sign a new contract and then go next summer anyway but at least it would give a look of stability. I really think next season could be a complete disaster.
Fair point about the lame duck manager. Which is why I believe the board has every intention of offering him an extension.
Certainly could be a disaster next season. Or an exciting new start. One man can decide that but I doubt he'll make the decision that's in the best interests of the club. Although of course he imagines (genuinely I suppose) that everything he does is a big benefit.
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I think it's a fair presumption to make of the board that a detrimental effect on revenues and sponsorship will force them to act.
Will Puma feel they are going to be getting their money's worth for the kit deal if people don't buy replica kits?
Will corporate sponsors feel embarrassed having advertising hoardings in a half empty stadium
It will make the board stand up and take notice id imagine. Unless Wenger wins something major things are just not going to improve in that respect.
Short term they can hold out, but with his contract ending next year it would be easier just not to offer him a new one and tell Gazidis to get a replacement.
Why won't they do that this season? Because it means that they have to do make a football based decision, why would they want to do that if they have deferred all that to Wenger.
Last edited by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie; 22-04-2016 at 05:32 PM.
lequipe say Arsenal are currently negotiating 3-year extension with Wenger, even if club are denying it.
Oh god.
Surely they're not THAT out of touch!