Arsene Wenger has earned the right to decide when he leaves Arsenal, says Charlie Nicholas
Friday 17 February 2017 09:03, UK
The time has come for Arsene Wenger to call time on his 20-year association with Arsenal, but he has earned the right to decide when he leaves, according to Charlie Nicholas.
The Gunners' Champions League last-16 struggles returned on Wednesday as Bayern Munich all but ended their hopes of navigating the stage for the first time since 2010 with a humbling 5-1 first-leg victory.
Already under siege for Arsenal's faltering Premier League title bid, Wenger's position at the Emirates Stadium has been the subject of yet more scrutiny.
Nicholas feels the Frenchman's revolutionary tenure in north London - which has yielded nine major honours - has run its course, but he stressed Wenger deserves to leave in a dignified manner.
"He has earned the right to decide when to leave," he said. "For the last three years he has been questioned and last year was the first time I started to turn.
"I don't enjoy saying it but the reality is that this is not the Arsenal I want to see. He deserves criticism but I feel pain for him more than anyone else.
"I want him to leave with dignity and humility after the greatness he has achieved. He will decide when the time is right but I feel that time is coming.
"He cannot continue with this pain, the anxiousness he has before games and the players not reaching the level he has delivered in the past.
"I suspect he will say enough is enough this summer, he won't announce it until the season wears as to not affect their involvement in the FA Cup.
"He will also want to uphold his record of securing a top-four finish in every season, so he will put himself in a position to do so.
"The fact of the matter is that there has been no improvement this season, even with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Nothing at Arsenal is driven, it's all nice and easy, these players need driving.
"He will walk away this summer because of the intensity surrounding his position and having blindly put his faith in players who simply haven't improved."
