• Premier League

Dein warns Arsenal fans that Wenger could walk

ESPNsoccernet staff
August 19, 2011
Arsene Wenger is coming under increasing pressure from sections of the Arsenal support © Getty Images
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Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein believes Arsene Wenger could consider his future if he does not receive the backing of the fans.

With captain Cesc Fabregas having departed for Barcelona and Samir Nasri set to complete a move to Manchester City in the near future, Dein says Wenger is "undoubtedly" facing the toughest spell of his time at Arsenal.

There is a growing mood of discontent among many supporters over the failure to sign up replacements, but Dein believes the fans need to get behind their manager.

He told BBC Sport: "That's always an option open to him because it could come to a stage when he will say, 'Well, I have had enough'. At least that's how I feel and I feel the fans should feel that. They should at least give him the respect that he deserves for what he's done.

"People talk about 'Has his time finished at the club?' That's a very dangerous thing to say because it's easy to get rid of people and then what? People talk about buying players. Well, you've got to get players who are better than the ones you've got at the moment."

Dein says he can sympathise with fans' frustrations over the lack of silverware in recent times but maintains Wenger is capable of ending the drought.

"I can understand their worry because the expectation level today is so high and Arsene has brought such success to the club," Dein said. "In 15 years that he's been there, every year we've been in the Champions League, so you can understand, perhaps, fans feeling a little bit frustrated that they haven't seen a trophy for a few years.

"Under Arsene Wenger's stewardship, they've had good times and very good times and there's no reason to expect why we shouldn't see them again."

He added: "Obviously I know him very well, he's a neighbour of mine. I've never seen a man in football more focused, more determined, with more drive than him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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