In an announcement that sent shockwaves around the world of football this morning Arsenal’s most successful manager and the manager who won the title with the legendary “Invincibles” – Arsene Wenger has made a mind-blowing revelation as he has released a statement saying he will be stepping down as the Gunners boss at the end of this season.

The statement entitled, “Merci Arsene” posted on Arsenal’s official website this morning reads,

“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.

“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.

“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.

“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.

“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.

“My love and support for ever.”

Arsene Wenger

In response again on Arsenal’s official website majority owner Stan Kroenke had this to say about his long-serving French manager:

“This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport. One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsène has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.

“Arsène has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude. Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record. He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.

“We have high ambitions to build on Arsène’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game.

“We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions of fans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.”

————

Arsène will lead the team to the end of the season and we will make an appointment as soon as possible. The club will not be making any further comment on the selection process until an appointment is made.

End of statement

So this announcement has happened in a not dissimilar way to the way Sir Alex Ferguson retired for good from Manchester United and the tenure of Arsene Wenger should no doubt receive just as many complements and superlatives about the way Wenger had his teams play, with Arsenal often being described as the best team to watch in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger has done the right thing by stepping down a year early as he will receive the very best of send-offs from the club for his class and management which delivered 3 Premier League titles, 7 FA Cups and 7 Community Shields with a Europa League triumph very much on the cards still.

Whomever replaces Arsene Wenger will have some serious boots to fill but Thomas Tuchel, Joachim Loew and Carlo Ancelotti are the early favourites for the job.

Arsene Wenger is a footballing genius who changed the way football was played in the Premier League and brought such talents as Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie, Robert Pires, Cesc Fabregas, Mesut Ozil and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang to England.

Thanks Arsene for everything you have done! You will be missed and never forgotten. It is truly the end of an era.