Arsene Wenger is to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, which will see an end of his 22-year reign as manager of the side.

Wenger leaves the Emirates a year before the expiration of his current contract which is due to end next season.
The Frenchman, 68, has served in the club and have won trophies in his years at Arsenal; he has won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, including the Double in 1998 and in 2002.

The Gunners sit sixth on the EPL table and are set to miss out on a top-four spot for the second consecutive season, showing a dwindling performance of the Wenger-led team. Their hopes of reaching the Champions League now solely lie on their winning the Europa League which has reached the semi-final stage.

“I am grateful for having the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years,” said Wenger. “I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

“To all the Arsenal lovers, take care of the values of the club.”

Arsenal has stated that a successor will be appointed “as soon as possible”.

The Frenchman came into the employ of Arsenal on October 1 1996, and has since become the longest serving manager in the Premier League after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. He has taken charge of a record 823 games; from the days at High bury Park.
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Wenger’s replacement has in the past two seasons be in the words, choruses of many fans of the club, while a cross section of Arsenal faithful still believed in the Frenchman.

The club has seen missing out of the Champions League qualification spot last season and probably this season too as their current standing on the EPL table shows they cannot make it to the prestigious UEFA Champions League.

Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle was their 11th in the league this season, equaling their worst tally in the campaign under Wenger.
Arsenal are 33 points behind league leaders Manchester City, who have garnered 87 points, and the same number away from the bottom side West Brom who have 21 points to their credit.

Stan Kroenke, Arsenal’s majority shareholder describes Friday’s announcement as “one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our year in sport”.

He added: “One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch.
“His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.

Arsenal will have to overcome their semi-final opponent, Atletico Madrid in the Europa League, the first leg tie to be played next Thursday.

Wenger’s first few seasons at Arsenal were very rewarding; nine seasons to be precise. The period saw Arsenal winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups and which in-between this nine successful years, 2003-04 season, he became the first manager since 1988-89 to lead a team through an English top-flight season unbeaten.
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But after the glorious era of the nine-year trophy-filled period, Arsenal’s fortunes with regards title winning vanished after winning the FA Cup trophy in 2005. The Gunners waited for 3,283 days (nine years) for their next silverware which came after they defeated Hull City to win the 2014 FA Cup, then went on to win the season trophy the next season.[/b]

Who succeeds Wenger?[color=#006600][/color]
Wenger says former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira “has the potential” to succeed him at the Emirates but former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel has already been linked with the job.

“We have high ambitions to build on Arsene’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game,” added Kroenke.

Tuchel is the favourite with the bookies as it stands, ahead of Germany boss Joachim Low and former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti.

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