Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick has formally acknowledged the growing frustration within the Gunners fan-base regarding Arsene Wenger's future at the club. He has reiterated his immediate faith in the manager, though, while clarifying that any decision will be mutual.
A statement from Keswick published on Arsenal.comread:
"We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate. We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.
"Arsene has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way."
Wenger recently confirmed that he plans to stay in management next season, although he refused to say whether he intends that to be at Arsenal or not.
Protests against Wenger's continued employment came to a head this week when fans called for the long serving Frenchman's head prior to this week's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
The man himself admitted on Thursday morning that he will be forced to take fans into account when deciding whether he stays at the Emirates Stadium beyond June.
"[The fan protests] will not be the most important factor but you consider it, of course," he said.
Massimiliano Allegri (13/8), Thomas Tuchel (9/1), Luis Enrique (11/1), Diego Simeone (14/1), Eddie Howe (14/1) and Brendan Rodgers (14/1) are some of the more favoured names with bookmakers to be next permanent Arsenal manager.
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