Premier League: Arsenal fans want Wenger out

Aug 19, 2013
Premier League: Arsenal fans want Wenger out
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) say that Arsene Wenger should not be offered an extension to his contract as Arsenal manager. The Gunners have made just one signing this summer, bringing Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer, and lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa in the first match of the Premier League season. "Chief executive Ivan Gazidis has spoken of the intent to offer Wenger a new contract. We believe this is inappropriate," an AST statement says. "The entire focus must be on using the remaining days of the transfer window to strengthen the team significantly." The AST is the club's official supporters trust and has about 1100 members, including several small shareholders. Arsene Wenger was appointed Arsenal manager in October 1996 and his contract runs out in May 2014. The club qualified for the Champions League every season for the past 16 years but their most recent trophy was the 2005 FA Cup. Gazidis revealed the club was ready to spend big this summer but the only signing to date is Yaya Sanogo, who joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Auxerre. The AST has urged the club to invest some of the available money as the reported cash balance is no less than £154m, almost as much as the rest of the other 19 clubs in the Premier League combined. "Ambitious football clubs invest the money they receive from their fans, and sometimes their owners, to make themselves stronger," said the AST. "Arsenal supporters pay some of the highest ticket prices in world football, providing the club with considerable financial resources, but the ambition and ability to use them appear to be missing. The fact that there is money available for squad-strengthening is not disputed. The AST's independent analysis suggests that the amount is somewhere between £70m-£100m." Arsenal are now 16/1 to win the Premier League this season at Bet365, way behind favourites Chelsea who are 2/1 to claim the Premiership crown under new manager Jose Mourinho.
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