3 nailed on signs that Arsene Wenger will pen a new deal at Arsenal

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League in embarrassing circumstances on Tuesday after losing 10-2 on aggregate to German giants Bayern Munich.

Arsene Wenger’s men were up against it having lost 5-1 at the Allianz Arena three weeks ago, but Theo Walcott did give them a half time lead at the Emirates to restore some pride.

However, what happened after that was nothing short of horrendous, as Laurent Koscielny’s red card eight minutes into the second half instigated another complete capitulation, with five Bayern goals in just half an hour condemning the Gunners to the second heaviest aggregate defeat in Champions League history.

And, as a result, manager Wenger’s future is once again subject to debate after overseeing a seventh successive last 16 exit from the Champions League, and indeed another failed Premier League title attempt.

Many supporters vented their anger around the Emirates on Tuesday night, with that display clearly being the last straw for some, yet a two-year contract is on the table for Wenger, whose current deal expires in the summer.

And, having spent over 20 years at the club so far, here are THREE signs that he will indeed pen a new deal at the Emirates at the end of the campaign…

We’ve been here before

This isn’t the first time that Wenger’s future has been in doubt at Arsenal, but he hasn’t yet decided against leaving the club.

In the six seasons prior to this one, the Gunners lost in the last 16 of the Champions League every time, and they haven’t won the Premier League title since 2004.

Remember the nine-year drought between trophies? He didn’t leave during that either, so although things have been tricky in the last few weeks, this season is still very similar to the two or three that have gone before.

Wenger’s men are one game away from an FA Cup semi-final, and still very much in the race for a 21st consecutive top four finish in the league – it could still turn out to be a better season than last time round, where they didn’t win a trophy but did finish in the top four.

Believes he is the right man

Clearly, Wenger still believes that he is the right man to take Arsenal forward, even if they appear to have been going backwards in the last few years.

The Gunners have improved their league position over the last three seasons from fourth in 2013 and 2014 to third in 2015, and then second last time out.

Add in two FA Cup successes in their last three campaigns, as well as back-to-back Community Shields, and Wenger has achieved more in the last few years than the preceding eight, and he could still go on and win silverware this season as well.

Wenger has come back from adversity before, and there’s no reason to suggest why he can’t do it again.

Cannot let go

Photo: Mark Leech

Arsene Wenger took over as Arsenal manager on October 1 1996, and for the last 20 years he has been the heartbeat of the club.

He has taken them to three Premier League titles, six FA Cups, and a Champions League final, as well as a new stadium, and has also completely changed football in England in terms of the science and nutrition surrounding the game.

Ultimately, you get the impression that Arsenal is his life, so for him to say enough is enough is going to be extremely difficult, and perhaps something he cannot do just yet.

For 20 years, Wenger has been Arsenal, he has transformed them into the club they are now, both on and off the pitch – he’s not going to walk away because certain supporters don’t want him there anymore.

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