Wenger To Step Down As Arsenal Manager At End Of Season

After serving England's one of the biggest football clubs, Arsenal FC, for 22 long years, its longest serving manager Arsene Wenger has announced that he would quit at the end of the current season. The legendary Frenchman, who took charge at the club in October 1996, is the most successful manager with three Premier League and seven FA Cup titles.

At present, Arsenal stand sixth in the Premier League and was ousted from the FA Cup with an embarrassing defeat to Nottingham Forest, back in January. With this announcement, the Europa League is the only possible silverware that Wenger stands a chance to win, with Arsenal scheduled to face Spanish bigwigs Atletico Madrid in the first semi-final on 04 May, 2018.

In a statement released by Arsenal today, Wenger was quoted as saying, “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season. I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years."

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“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity. I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special."

“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”

Majority shareholder of Arsenal, Stan Kroenke responded on Wenger's exit. “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport. One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched," he said.

“Arsene has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude. Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record. He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played," he added.

Kroenke continued, “We have high ambitions to build on Arsene’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game. We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions of fans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.”

The club has made it clear on its plans to choose its new manager. Arsenal informed that it will try to appoint a new manager in the quickest possible time and that it would not make any further comment until the new manager is chosen.

Amidst doubts and public criticism by club fans with #WengerOut slogans being raised on Wenger's future at Arsenal over the past few years, speculation was rife that Massimiliano Allegri, the current manager at Italian giants Juventus, would replace him. Former Arsenal player Mikel Arteta and French player Patrick Viera were among the other names that were in the air.

Here’s how some of the footballers responded over Wenger’s exit: