Wenger must go at once

Arsenal fans across the world are at the end of their tether as yet another fruitless season is nearing its end. But the man at the helm of the team isn’t contrite at all. Despite being one of the main reasons for Arsenal’s diabolical season, manager Arsene Wenger is in no mood to relinquish his post. Those who feted Wenger as the saviour in the first decade of his stint as Arsenal boss are pillorying him for hanging on to his job. He is, however, not ready to wake up and smell the coffee. Is the Frenchman so unique in the managerial world that he doesn’t have a sell-by date

With rank outsiders Leicester City and fierce north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur vying for the title, Arsenal took a step towards securing a place in the Champions League next season by beating West Brom 2-0 at home on Thursday. Many empty seats witnessed the double of Alexi Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium, as a lot of ticket holders stayed away after realising the pointlessness of watching the match. The mood was sombre at the stands. Banners that called for the head of Wenger were once again prominent. One said “All good things must come to an end” while another proclaimed “Arsenal FC, not Arsene FC”.

It’s bewildering to note that Wenger has not owned up responsibility for his team’s inadequacies. When there was a crying need to shore up central defence at the start of the season, the manager remained unmoved. When a man of Thierry Henry’s stature suggested midway through the season that Arsenal wouldn’t win the league with Olivier Giroud as the attacking spearhead, Wenger failed to see the logic in his former player’s opinion. He, instead, took up the cudgels for Giroud.

How can a top club put up with a manager who last won the league in 2003-04 It’s a question that rankles every Arsenal fan. With Pep Guardiola all set to take over the reins at Manchester City next season, there is no end in sight to Arsenal’s title drought. While maturing with age people also tend to become more obstinate with the passage of time. Wenger has become too powerful at Arsenal to the detriment of the club. The time has come for the club’s board to bring him back to terra firma. The long-suffering Gunners faithful would love to welcome someone like Dennis Bergkamp in place of Wenger next season.