Wenger Should Pick His Successor, Says Arsenal Shareholder Usmanov

[caption id="attachment_18711" align="alignnone" width="750"]Arsene Wenger[/caption]

Arsenal’s second-biggest shareholder Alisher Usmanov, has said manager Arsene Wenger should lead the process in choosing his successor at the club.

Wenger’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires this summer, but with the club facing a fight to qualify for next season’s Champions League, unrest has grown over whether he should be allowed to extend his 20-year stay in charge.

A number of the club’s supporters have started campaigning against Wenger in an attempt to persuade the manager to leave, although Wenger has repeatedly insisted he has no plans to retire from football.

Advertisement

Usmanov has previously described Wenger as Arsenal’s “main symbol” and “main asset.”

Wenger is still to reveal whether he will sign a new contract at the end of the season

“Some continuity is needed,” Usmanov said in comments reported by Bloomberg.

“This includes the need to prepare a successor for Wenger, but in a very respectful way.

Advertisement

“I can suggest that Wenger himself can prepare a successor.

“I personally, unfortunately, am fully isolated from decision making in the club. All the responsibility for the fate of the club rests with the main shareholder [Kroenke].”

Arsenal have struggled to find form in recent weeks, with Wenger coming under criticism, however, the Russian billionaire, who owns 30 per cent of the club said majority shareholder Stan Kroenke ‘bears huge responsibility’ for the club’s recent struggles on the pitch.

“I do not think that the coach alone is to be blamed for what is happening,” Usmanov said.

“I personally, unfortunately, am fully isolated from decision making in the club.

Advertisement

“All the responsibility for the fate of the club rests with the main shareholder.”

The Gunners travel to Crystal Palace on Monday night for a Premier League match that they must win to keep their top-four ambitions alive.

Leave a comment

Advertisement