Travelling Arsenal supporters flew conflicting banners in support of and against their embattled manager Arsene Wenger at the Hawthorns.
It’s been a difficult season for Arsenal. Their poor league form, combined with Chelsea’s outstanding season, has them sitting 16 points out of the lead, effectively ending the title race for them. While they could settle for Champions League qualification, they still sit five points out of fourth. And they failed to progress beyond the Round of 16 in the Champions League again after getting humiliated 10-2 by Bayern Munich over two legs.
At the center of it all is, once again, Arsene Wenger. The French manager has been in the hot seat for the past few seasons, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the Arsenal board will really be put to the test regarding whether they’ll bring him back.
Over the past week, Arsenal fans have made their feelings known. They’ve taken to the streets to protest Wenger. Against West Brom, their first Premier League game since their Champions League exit, supporters traveled to the Hawthorns and flew a banner saying “Wenger Out”:
That was countered by a Wenger In banner that urged fans to “Respect AW”:
It seems like Wenger supporters are in the minority these days. After all, fans can only accept fourth-place finishes, round of 16 exits, disappointing transfers and an FA Cup for so long. But having been at the club since 1996, Arsenal are the only Premier League team Wenger has known, and even his staunchest critics can’t deny the success he’s brought to the club.
Next: Does Alexis Sanchez have a future at Arsenal?
When Arsenal replace Wenger, the club will undoubtedly take a step back. They might miss the Champions League for the first time since 1997, and they will have to try and rebuild their culture. Players like Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mesut Ozil may end up leaving. But moving on from him may be the only way Arsenal can move forward.
These two banners show just how much Wenger has divided Arsenal supporters.