Caption competitionpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
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Arsenal
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Arsene Wenger to leave Arsenal at end of season
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Caption competitionpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
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Nic Leung Lik Yan: Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal at the end of the season. I trully respect what Wenger has done for Arsenal. That Invincibles season was purely amazing, and the attacking football he plays is just delightful. Good luck, Arsene.
Paul C 1989: We will never forget what Arsene did for our club but we have gone backwards. It's not same as United who were winning league titles up until Fergie went. Arsene is and always will be a legend. Best go before his legacy gets tarnished more. Thanks AW.
Anukram Adhikary: All of a sudden, even the haters have words of praise for the one and only Arsene Wenger. I’m scared for Arsenal and it’s future but let’s see what the future brings.
'He was like a father figure to me'published at 13:04 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Image source, InstagramFormer Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has paid a fitting tribute to Arsene Wenger.
get involved 'The greatest Arsenal manager'published at 13:04 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Image source, InstagramFormer Arsenal captain and defender Tony Adams hails Arsene Wenger on Instagram.
Postpublished at 13:03 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Arsenal
Image source, TwitterArsene Wenger: Arsenal boss to leave club at end of seasonpublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Arsenal
Image source, Getty ImagesArsene Wenger is to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, ending a near 22-year reign at the club.
The Frenchman departs a year before his latest contract was due to expire.
The Gunners are sixth in the league and set to miss out on a top-four spot for the second straight season, with their hopes of reaching the Champions League resting on winning the Europa League - the first leg of their semi-final against Atletico Madrid is next Thursday.
Wenger, 68, won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, including the Double in 1998 and 2002.
Postpublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
ArsenalAs it's around lunchtime, it might be time for a little recap of what has developed over the last few hours...
Postpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Arsenal
Image source, TwitterSir Mo Farah took time away from his preparations for Sunday's London Marathon to Tweet his praise for Arsene Wenger.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
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I'm 20 and an avid arsenal fan. Arsene Wenger has been in charge my entire life. It's time for him to go, but I'm not sure I'll ever get used to seeing someone else in the dugout. Your a legend Arsene.
Ben
Finally can go back to Arsenal now!!! Fantastic day going to throw a party!! A real red letter day for Arsenal. Anything is possible now! We might finally get a real central defensive midfielder after 10 years.
Adam, London
Over the years I've become even more of an Arsene fan than an Arsenal fan. This is a huge life event. We need an innovative appointment now - if Ancelotti gets the job I'm retiring with Le Prof.
Neil H
Postpublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Arsenal
Image source, TwitterArsene Wenger signed Mohamed Elneny from Basel in 2016.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
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Needs to be an experienced manager as a replacement. Ancelotti would be the best choice for me. Proven winner at all levels.
Marc, London
Arsenal can't compete with City, United, Chelsea financially, only a change in budget constraints will see them challenge for the title, else it will just be challenging for the fourth place trophy again. I think the announcement timing is spot on prior to the Atlético Madrid matches though. I am Arsenal due to Wenger's philosophy, he deserves every plaudit he gets.
Nick, Shropshire
The. Grass. Is. Always. Greener. Arsenal will only realise what a brilliant man Arsene is in a year or two and then it will be too late....some should be embarrassed by how they've disrespected him.
Sharpy. Liverpool fan
Postpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Manchester United
Image source, Twitter'A very special man. My footballing father'published at 12:38 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Arsenal
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Image source, TwitterRobin van Persie won the 2005 FA Cup under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal
The beginning of the endpublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
May 2018
ArsenalArsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since Arsene Wenger took over as manager in 1996.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
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Nathan Turner: Arsene Wenger is the sole reason I watch football today. The man that introduced me to the sport as a kid & in the way the game should be played. 20 years later and I’m thankful I had the pleasure of watching his teams.
David Little: I hope a fans can appreciate what Wenger has done for the club. You know it's big when it was the top trending in Oz six minutes after the announcement.
Ryan LCFC 3: Wenger leaving isn't a surprise to be fair but despite that, he has given the Premier League a lot of memories over the years especially the invincibles which in my view was the best Arsenal team ever!! As a Leicester fan a massive thanks for great matches against us.
'The best thing that could happen to Arsenal 'published at 12:28 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
ArsenalFormer Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: “Wenger should have gone many years ago. You can’t take away the good things. When he came he changed the philosophy of Arsenal.
“He was fantastic in that period but like a lot of dictators they think they are going down the right road but even when people are saying you need to change, he wouldn’t change.
“Arsenal under Arsene Wenger in the last few years have been too one dimensional and behind the times in recruitment and physio therapy. It is the best thing that could happen to Arsenal that he is leaving now.”
Postpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Arsenal
Image source, TwitterFabrice Muamba was handed his professional debut by Arsene Wenger.
Playing the long gamepublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
2013
ArsenalArsene Wenger became the Premier League’s current longest serving manager when Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012/13 season.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
Ian Dennis
Radio 5 live senior football reporter"Arsenal are definitely going to need a high profile manager, someone of the ilk of Joachim Loew. Patrick Viera, Brendan Rodgers would be linked but I imagine Loew will emerge as the front runner."
'Emotional and sad'published at 12:15 British Summer Time 20 April 2018
ArsenalArsenal club captain Per Mertesacker...
On Wenger’s announcement: "We have just been informed basically. It is quite emotional. Obviously he has been at the club for such a long time, he has been so supportive to me. One major reason why I’m here is because of him. It’s been emotional and there will be time to digest it but it is a sad feeling right now.
On what it’s been like to work with him: "He’s been the major figure for this club for over 20 years. He’s been so impressive for me and he’s trusted me so much throughout my career, in bringing me here, giving me the opportunity to play here and making me captain even when I was injured. He also gave me a future role here at the club, so I’m very grateful and humbled for the opportunity he gave to me. It is a sad day for me but we’re also moving forward for the future. It’s in Arsene’s interest as well that this club will give positive memories to the fans and the people.
On what he’s learnt from him: "A lot on the pitch but also his quality of being calm in the right moments, giving people trust and empowering people to explore themselves. There have been a lot of challenges, a lot of highs and lows, but how he went through tough times has taught me a lot about his character and about how to trust people and get the people in the right places to be successful. He gave us the opportunity to explore ourselves in order to be successful, and he’s always managed to get the team around himself to be successful. The memories of winning titles with him and bringing joy to so many people - something he has done for years - is a heck of an achievement.
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