Arsene Wenger has overstayed his welcome, says former chairman who appointed Arsenal manager in 1996
Peter Hill-Wood, the former Arsenal chairman who appointed Arsène Wenger as manager of the north London club in 1996, has made the clearest indication yet that the Frenchman's days are numbered at the Emirates Stadium.
Following a series if disappointing results, including back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City, the pressure on Wenger has mounted with a number of senior-placed figures within the club understood to have drawn up a list of possible replacements for the manager.
It is the words of Hill-Wood who took the relatively unknown Wenger from Japanese club Grampus Eight in 1996, though, that is sure to hurt the most. Hill-Wood, who stood down as club chairman in 2013 has until now been one of Wenger's supporters and has continued to back the manager.
However, Hill-Wood believes now may be the time for Wenger to quit Arsenal following 22 year's at the helm during which time he has won three league titles and seven FA Cups.
“I clearly am not very happy about what is going on,” Hill-Wood told the Daily Star. “I think that there probably ought to be a change of management.
“He has done fabulously well, it is just he has overstayed his welcome. I find it very sad because he was the great love of many and then it [overstaying his welcome] has destroyed it all.”
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On Friday, Wenger himself admitted his players were low on confidence ahead of Sunday's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion who remain unbeaten in all competitions home or away since January 20.
"Yes," he replied when asked if the confidence issue fed into the lowly return on their travels. "Certainly it is and that is down to us to change it. I am always ready for a fight. I am of course very disappointed but I have experienced these situations before.
"I have been in these situations in my life and I know what it takes. Experience and the desire to change things. Does that desire still burn as strongly? Of course."
