Wenger jumped because he feared push from Arsenal board

Arsène Wenger took the seismic decision to walk away from Arsenal on his own terms because he was mindful of the very real threat that he would be sacked at the end of the season.

The club’s majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, and other directors had grown increasingly concerned by the team’s dismal Premier League performance and the huge number of fans who have chosen to stay away from home matches in recent weeks.

The Guardian understands the club began a drive to cold call Red Members of their supporter scheme on Wednesday to offer season tickets for 2018-19 in the face of record numbers of non-renewals. Red Members are below Gold and Silver members in terms of priority.

Wenger had routinely said he would fulfil the remaining year on his contract but the wagons have circled for some time. The chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has made a series of appointments on the technical side as part of his “catalyst for change” agenda – most notably those of the head of football relations, Raúl Sanllehí, and the head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat.

The impression has been that Gazidis was putting a succession plan into place while Wenger was in the building.

Wenger has felt the pressure from board level, although there was a sense of shock among the squad when he informed them before a community event and a training session on Friday morning that he would step down from what he has referred to as his life’s work at the end of the season.

Wenger walked into the dressing room at London Colney and he announced: “I have some bad news.” He talked about how he had enjoyed his long service at the club and now was the time to go out on a high by winning the Europa League. Arsenal face Atlético Madrid in the semi-final – the first leg is in London next Thursday – and, were Wenger to win a first European trophy, it would return the club to next season’s Champions League.

None of the players said anything in the immediate aftermath of Wenger’s speech. There was merely stunned silence. Per Mertesacker, the squad’s most vocal member, then stood up to deliver a rallying cry, urging them to do Wenger proud in the season’s final matches.

The hope at the club is that the timing of the announcement will galvanise players and fans for the Europa League – their shot at saving the season. It also offers Wenger the chance to enjoy a measure of goodwill from supporters over his final weeks, even those who have hounded him relentlessly. The transformation of the mood from angst to an outpouring of affection was a feature of an extraordinary day. Arsenal face West Ham United at the Emirates on Sunday.

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Gazidis said the benefit of the decision was that it would enable them to approach managerial candidates proactively without it feeling as though they were going behind Wenger’s back. Gazidis insisted no approaches had been made and that the process – the difficulty of which he did not underestimate – would to all intents start from here.

The decision to wait so long has meant their missing out on one potential candidate: Thomas Tuchel, the former Borussia Dortmund manager. He has chosen his next career move and it is not Arsenal. Even if the London club were to approach him, it would be too late. It is believed that Tuchel is primed to replace Unai Emery at Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal have been linked with a raft of names, including Luis Enrique, Leonardo Jardim, Max Allegri, Patrick Vieira, Joachim Löw and Brendan Rodgers. Allegri has not decided his future and he will have a meeting with Juventus in May. The Celtic majority shareholder, Dermot Desmond, said the club would not stand in Rodgers’ way if he were approached.

Gazidis gave an emotional press conference in which he paid tribute to Wenger. His principal message was that the day was about acknowledging Wenger’s greatness, rather than revealing any of the nitty-gritty that led to the parting of ways.

Gazidis did discuss the profile of the manager he would like while making the point that “you don’t find a replacement for Arsène Wenger; you find a new path forward”. He also said he did not think the candidate would have the same “kind of authority” and the “breadth and scope” that Wenger has enjoyed at Arsenal.

Gazidis added: “It’s important to me that we continue the football values that Arsène has instilled in the club. Our fans want to see that – someone who will continue to play exciting, progressive football. What’s also important is how the candidate represents the club. And so is the value of giving youth a chance.

Quick Guide

Arsène Wenger's Arsenal honours

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Premier League (3): 1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04.

FA Cup (7): 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17.

Community Shield (6): 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2014-15, 2015-16.

Premier League Manager of the Season (3): 1997-98, 2001-02, 200-/04.

League Managers' Association Manager of the Year (2): 2001-02, 2003-04.

BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year (2): 2002, 2004.

Premier League Manager of the Month (15)

Photograph: Scott Heavey/PA

“We’ve got to be open-minded and also brave in the decision. When Arsène was appointed, I don’t think he was on many people’s radar screens. That doesn’t mean we have to make another appointment that not everybody is thinking about and talking about. But it does mean we need to be bold in the appointment and get the person we believe is the right person.”

Gazidis stressed that the speed of the appointment was not the most important thing. What next for Wenger? It is believed that he wants to remain in management and he is certain to get many job offers.

Mertesacker described Wenger’s address to the players as “emotional”. He added: “We will fight for every single day to make this season a success story in terms of lifting a title. We want to give Arsène Wenger a farewell story that no one will forget.”

Wenger said: “I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season. To all the Arsenal lovers, take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”