Arsene Wenger Says Future With Arsenal To Be Decided After 2017 FA Cup Final

Arsene Wenger announced Friday that his future as manager of Arsenal will not be determined until after the FA Cup Final, which will be held at the end of May.

Arsene Wenger: Future with Arsenal to be determined after FA Cup Final

The Evening Standard’s James Olley was among the first to report the news:

Wenger’s contract expires at the end of Arsenal’s season, which finishes May 27 when the Gunners face Premier League winners Chelsea in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

The 67-year-old Frenchman has been with the London-based club since 1996, and has repeatedly declined to discuss a possible contract extension (or lack thereof) with Arsenal despite angry protests from many fans for Wenger to resign.

ESPN’s Alex Shaw and The New York Times’  Rory Smith also expressed how tired they are of Wenger’s refusal to reveal how much longer he will be in charge at Emirates Stadium:

Wenger said whether or not he keeps his position will be decided in a board meeting.

“There are many aspects to be discussed at a board meeting. One is what happens with the manager,” he said. “Of course I will be there. At the moment we should focus on the short term and what is going on on Sunday and in the cup final.”

Should Arsenal defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, that would be the Gunners’ first title this season.

Arsenal supporters have taken all sorts of extreme measures to voice their desire to see the French manager fired. During Saturday’s Premier League victory at Stoke City, a plane flew over the stadium while carrying a banner with the words “Wenger — out means out!” One of the Gunners’ most embarrassing defeats this campaign was a 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Gunners are currently fifth in the Premier League with 72 points, just one point behind fourth-place Liverpool and three away from third-place Manchester City. Chelsea won the league with 90 points, while Tottenham finished second with 83.

Arsenal, which last beat Sunderland 2-0 at home on Tuesday, will host seventh-place Everton (61 points) on Sunday for their final Premier League game.

In order to finish in the top four in Champions League qualifying, the Gunners must beat Everton and hope Liverpool lose points by falling to Middlesbrough at home this Sunday — or that Manchester City lose severely to Watford.

“We have to do our job, we are professionals and want to win,” said Wenger. “We are on a good run and all we can do is win our game on Sunday. After that what happens to me is less important.

“I am here to serve the club and the best way to do that is by winning the next game.”

Watford recently announced that their own manager, Walter Mazzarri, will be leaving at the end of this season following a terrible run. The team is 16th in the Premier League with 40 points, and has lost its last five games, the last one being Monday’s 4-3 defeat against Chelsea that gave the Blues their Premier League trophy.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal celebrates his team’s first goal in the stand during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Hull City at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)