What to do with Arsene Wenger?

From the outset, it is important not to be reactive and suggest that Arsenal need to reconsider the future of the man currently at the helm. He has brought the club much success and has completely re-invented the way in which Arsenal play; something which shall be his legacy, and shall never be forgotten at the North London club.

There are worries though, mainly linked with his state of mind. On the bench, he cuts a more and more anguished figure as the game progresses, and one fears for his health. Every game seems to be torture for him, and he has recently stated that he struggles sleeping at night as a result of the strain placed upon him by his job.

Whilst his role in the club is one which creates much stress naturally, one cannot help but feel that he places a lot of pressure on himself which only makes the situation worse. Wenger will never blame his team, only himself. Every obstacle the team fails to overcome is looked upon as a personal failure as opposed to a short-coming of the team. The Carling Cup howler between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny was ignored by Wenger when another manager may well have just been up front and admitted that the culpability lay solely at their feet.

This is admirable in a way, but potentially damaging to the team. If the players persistently feel blameless, then will they ever up their game at crucial times? The answer to that would always appear to be negative. However, the biggest issue is how the manager acts on the side-line. Whilst it would seem essential to portray an image of confidence, Wenger is throwing water-bottles aside when decisions go the other way, and uses the fourth official as a verbal punching bag.

Confidence is hardly evoked by such behaviour, and as points slip away, Wenger’s reactions become more and more angry and extreme. He needs a break, and it is as simple as that. Whilst a man in his position needs to keep track of everything going on in the world game, he needs to complete his summer dealings early, and give himself two months off from the game. One could perhaps point to the lack of a tactician as an assistant as a reason for which Wenger is so unwilling to delegate, and this could be a position which is subtly strengthened in the summer.

Wenger is still the right man for the job, and any Arsenal fan of more than five years will be aware that clubs go through transition periods, and when such a time comes in which a new stadium is built and finances are scarce, the barren spell lasts longer than one would hope.

Change needs to come, but nothing too drastic. Wenger deserves more than that.

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