Time for Arsenal change? Not next season…

Arsene Wenger is ‘poised to retain complete control’ of all football matters at the club next season despite fan protests, says a report in the Daily Telegraph.

Journalist Matt Law – who traditionally has good sources at the club – claims that Wenger is already working on his summer arrivals and exits, and also that he is ‘also taking an active and decisive role in a revamp of the club’s youth set-up’.

It is thought that 2016/17 will be Wenger’s final season as Arsenal manager but there will certainly be no dilution of his duties despite growing fan unrest.

The protests during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Norwich were actually muted, with support for Wenger largely drowning out those waving ‘Time for change’ placards.

“From what I was told, I thought the whole stadium would be white (with placards),” said Wenger, clearly buoyed by the understated nature of the protests.

“I am in a public job and I have to live with judgement as long as it is respectful. If it is only opinion, we have all to accept that because we are in a public job.

“I give my best for this club. You don’t spend 19 years at a club – like Sir Alex Ferguson spent 27 – without every minute of your time, you give your whole life for that and try to do as well as possible.

“One target is to keep 100 per cent of people happy. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do that this season.”