THE protests of the Arsenal fans who called for change during their side’s 1-0 victory over struggling Norwich will fall on deaf ears with manager Arsene Wenger set to retain complete control of all player and football staff matters at the club next season.
The Telegraph reports: “Although there is a growing feeling inside the Emirates that next season will be Wenger’s last in charge of the Gunners, the Frenchman will not be asked to relinquish any power while he remains as manager.
“He is already working on the players he wants to sign and let go for next season, and his authority extends much further than first-team matters as the 66-year-old is also taking an active and decisive role in a revamp of the club’s youth set-up.”
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, who was also a target of protests outside the Emirates on Saturday, still trusts his manager’s judgement 100 per cent and will not force any appointments on the club’s most successful manager.
Wenger was further boosted by the fact that the protest also sparked loud chants of ‘one Arsene Wenger’.
“From what I was told, I thought the whole stadium would be white (with placards),” he said.
There was, however, some good news for the fans who want a change of manager, when it was put to Wenger that even Sir Alex Ferguson went through more than one spell when Manchester United fans called for him to go.
The Arsenal boss said: “You don’t spend 19 years at a club – like Sir Alex Ferguson spent 27 – without every minute of your time, you give your whole life for that and try to do as well as possible.”
Asked if he could do 27 years at Arsenal, Wenger added: “No, no, never. Don’t worry.”
Does Wenger have too much control at Arsenal?
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