Arsenal chief backs Wenger ahead of shareholder grilling
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger will face disappointed shareholders today – but goes into the meeting with a ringing endorsement from club chiefs.
Wenger is due to attend a question and answer session in which the Frenchman’s failure to win a trophy for a fourth year in succession is sure to be scrutinised and dissected.
Another barren year has seen increased pressure on the manager and led to fierce criticism of his reliance on young players rather and his reluctance to spend money.
But Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis insists there is no need for wholesale changes, despite admitting his frustration at finishing fourth in the Premier League.
“I’m not happy where we ended up but I am pleased we are disappointed by it,” Gazidis said. “But we should not be over-reactive and feel we are in crisis. We’re not. Does the team need to be supplemented? Quite possibly but it is a very, very promising situation for the next four or five years.”
Meanwhile, the club have denied reports long-serving assistant manager Pat Rice could retire in the summer.