Was that Arsene Wenger’s last night in a European dugout?
Published 17/03/2016 at 09:15 GMT
After Barcelona dispatched Arsenal 3-1 at Camp Nou, will we see Arsene Wenger in the dugout at another European match?
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Image credit: Reuters
WHAT HAPPENED?
Arsenal failed their near-impossible mission: overturn a two-goal deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League. They briefly threatened Luis Enrique’s treble defenders, but a 3-1 defeat (5-1 on aggregate) inserted another negative instalment into their gloomy season.
[MATCH REPORT: Barcelona down Arsenal to reach last eight]
Arsene Wenger’s position as Gunners boss was already cause of much debate prior to kick-off in Spain. Murmurings of discontent had evolved into public calls for his resignation, with anti-Wenger banners a regular fixture on the Emirates terraces. This latest failure – however predictable – will only increase that pressure.
Arsenal look set to finish the season empty-handed, with the safety blanket of FA Cup success no longer available following the weekend defeat to Watford. It could be a sorry end to the historic reign of Wenger.
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Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Gabriel Paulista and David Ospina look dejected at the end of the match
Image credit: Reuters
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WENGER DEFENDS HIS RECORD
"I could give you all the stats if you are dramatic enough to read the stats," Wenger said.
"They showed that we suffered but that should not be considered game by game. In football, you look the last game and you look at the positives.
"We have gone out in the last six years to top sides who won the Champions League after. On one occasion we lost to Monaco but the others are always against Bayern Munich or Barcelona."
The Arsenal boss also reserved special praise for Barca's attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, who all scored.
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Luis Suarez celebrates with Jordi Alba after scoring the second goal for Barcelona
Image credit: Reuters
...AND SAYS ARSENAL CAN STILL WIN THE LEAGUE
When asked if there was enough in the performance to suggest Arsenal can still win the Premier League, he replied: "I think yes.
"I'm disappointed with the result but we played a team with the best three strikers I've seen.
Arsenal are 11 points behind Leicester City with eight matches remaining, albeit with a game in hand.
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BUT WRIGHT ADMITS IT COULD BE THE END
"Especially with how it's going with Leicester and Tottenham above them and Arsenal coming out of the Champions League and FA Cup ... if they finish third or fourth again, I think the natives have turned and there's more there who want the boss out than want him in," Gunners great Ian Wright told BT Sport.
"I'm not sure if he will still be there in the summer, if they don't win the league.
"It's a very tough one for me, but I think change is a-coming.
"At some stage it's got to happen and I think something's got to happen this season with what's happening with Arsenal, especially if they don't win the league."
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Luis Enrique: Ninth consecutive Champions League quarter-final source of huge pride
Video credit: TNT Sports
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OUR VIEW
Wenger’s future hinges on one question: can Arsenal haul themselves back into the Premier League picture? Or it should, but the Frenchman is under no obligation to walk away, while the board remain overly fond of their long-term leader.
Winning the domestic title is probably beyond them – Leicester and Spurs may display greater steel than the Gunners have this past decade – but a sustained finish may help sway a disgruntled mass. Right now, even that looks unlikely at present.
What have Arsenal got to lose? A new manager would still finish fourth, would still reach the Champions League last 16. For all of their "doing it the right way" gloating, league and continental titles talk – and Wenger is without such glory since 2004. It’s time for his era to be consigned to history.
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