Gazidis and the rest of the club’s hierarchy had been increasingly worried about the team’s poor Premier League performance and it had become clear they did not want to retain Wenger for the final season on his contract.
Wenger was asked yesterday – before the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium – why he was quitting when he had another year to go on his deal. “The timing was not really my decision,” he replied. “For the rest, I have spoken about it already.”
The 68-year-old made it plain that Whe intended the seek another job in management – “I will continue to work, that’s for sure,” he said – while he believes his successor will inherit a team that, with a few correct moves, can win the Premier League title.
“What I want to say is that this team has quality,” Wenger said. “Two years ago we finished second in the league, last year we made 75 points and won the FA Cup, we won the Community Shield. We were in the League Cup final (this season), we are now in the semi-final of the Europa League so these players have quality and I am convinced that hopefully we can show that again before the end of the season. I am convinced in the future, with two or three additions, this team has the quality to fight for the title.”
Wenger described Diego Simeone’s Atlético as “the toughest opponents” in the Europa League. He added: “It would really feel like an anti-climax (if Arsenal did not win the competition). That’s why we want to give our absolute all to have a chance of going to the final.
“This group of players deserves something special. I want to do it for them, to achieve something with them because I feel they have a special mental quality. My biggest satisfaction would be to be successful together with the group of players that I have. I’ve seen them behave the whole season and they deserve it.
“It will be a Champions League night, of course – on a double level. First of all, a Champions League position is at stake, more for us than them; and secondly because the two teams are two clubs who are used to playing in the Champions League. That is why I believe it is a Champions League night.”
Luis Enrique, the former Barcelona manager, is the favourite to take over from Wenger. Arsenal’s head of football relations, Raul Sanllehi, worked with Enrique at the Camp Nou and is believed to be pushing his case.
“I have a high opinion of Luis Enrique,” Wenger said. “I do not want to influence the job for the next manager but of course I have a high opinion of him.”
