It is not quite the dreaded vote of confidence but as an indicator as to how the pressure has increased on Arsene Wenger it was significant. The Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, Tuesday insisted that sacking the manager is not an option.
Arsenal have suffered their worst start to a season since 1953, losing three of their first five Premier League matches including humiliating defeats by Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers.
That record, coupled with the sales of key players such as Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and unconvincing performances by new signings Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos have for the first time led to doubts being expressed about Wenger’s longevity in the role.
Wenger, who was at a loss to explain how his players capitulated 4-3 against Blackburn on Saturday, will at least be cheered by Gazidis’s backing. He said that sacking the Frenchman was “a route we are not going to go down”.
Speaking at the Sport Industry Breakfast Club in London, Gazidis said Wenger “is not broken ... he did not suddenly become a bad manager or somebody who became out of touch with the game.
“It is complete nonsense.” He added that having critics and fans portray Wenger “as some kind of idiot” is damaging for football.
Wenger has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996 and has not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup. Their last Premier League title came in 2004.
“Arsene is frustrated, he shares the same frustrations that we all do,” Gazidis,said.
“The potential is very high but we have found self-inflicted ways not to achieve that full potential and that is why he is deeply frustrated.
“If you look at the last six years when we haven’t quite got over the line for a trophy. That is something we need to correct because the potential is there.
“That is the frustration I think Arsene is wrestling with but he is absolutely not broken. He is as focused on delivering success to this football club as he has ever been.”
Gazidis also said that Stan Kroenke will speak publicly about his plans in the near future.
“The ‘Silent Stan’ moniker is over-used,” he said. “He’s not silent, he’s very involved. He will speak when the time is right. Stan said he’ll speak to the fans when he’s next in UK and he will. He is not media adverse but not here for ego gratification.”
