Ok, that’s it from us. The day long expected to come arrived unexpectedly and now Arsenal fans are given until the end of the season to make their peace with Wenger. And there is still a Europa League to be won.
One final Wenger fact: he has lost in the final of every European competition he has entered - Cup Winners’ Cup with Monaco in 1992, UEFA Cup with Arsenal in 2000 and the Champions League in 2006. Atlético Madrid lie in wait on Thursday.
Can Arsenal’s players do it for Arsène?
And Amy Lawrence looks back on 22 years at Arsenal.
Gunners fan Toby Moses looks forward to that big farewell party.
The fans have their say.
To close out, let’s go through our news and features on the big story.
Ok, to summarise further from Ivan Gazidis’ news conference
Gazidis suggesting Arsenal are yet to approach a successor. “Other clubs go out and conduct their managerial search in that way but for us, Arsène has made his decision and now that process begins.”
Gazidis on the next manager.
“Someone who plays exciting and progressive football. But I think there is also a significant thing at Arsenal in how the candidate represents the club. We need to make sure we don’t lose his qualities and his values.”
Gazidis has been talking further about the management structure that been built around Wenger in recent months and will manage the great change that is coming.
“We have a tremendous amount of experience at the football club. [Head of football relations] Raul Sannlehhi has seen several Barcelona coaching changes and [head of recruitment] Sven Mislintat has been at Borussia Dortmund for changes while on the board we have those who have been around for long enough to see even changes at Arsenal. That said, no one here has been through a coaching change like this.”
Key points from Gazidis’ news conference.
Gazidis on breaking the news to players and staff at London Colney today. “I think from the reaction at the training ground today, what I felt was an incredible amount of passion to give Arsène the send off that he deserves. The decision had to come at some point. Now it’s time for us to look forward.”
More from Gazidis: “We’re not going to find a replacement for Arsène Wenger, for a variety of reasons. He came into the game 22 years ago when it was a very different time.”
Will Wenger retire? “He’s somebody who is in great shape and has a competitive edge but that’s a question for him.”
It’s “too early” to say if Wenger will have a role at the club, says Gazidis, who says the process of finding a new boss “starts from today” but he will not be drawn on whether Wenger will play a part in that process.
Gazidis will not be going into the whys and wherefores of Wenger stepping down but promises: The world will see the unity and power of this club. It’s my goal, my ambition that we build on his contribution.”
Gazidis: “This has been an emotional day for all involved at the club... his achievements are extraordinary....there’s an affection for him across the whole sphere of football. Arsène changed the game, he set a totally new standard, to make art out of football.”
Club CEO Ivan Gazidis is speaking at a news conference at the Emirates.
Thierry Henry, perhaps Wenger’s greatest Arsenal player, spoke earlier to Sky Sports about his former mentor.
I’m happy now we can talk about that legacy. Yes, let’s not forget we need to win the Europa League, let’s not get lost in celebrating, it would be an amazing achievement and a great way to give him an exit. But I’m finally happy that now, the talk we can all have his about his legacy. It was a bit of a mixed one; it’s a sad day for me to see the big man leaving the club, and happy in the way that people are hopefully going to give him the exit he deserves.
As the Arsenal suits prepare to give their side of the story, Stan Kroenke’s brief statement from before seems pertinent. Some rather large quasi-promises being made and something of an admission that Wenger’s day was done.
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. 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.
League Managers Association chairman, former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday boss and schoolteacher Howard Wilkinson has dusted off his leather elbow pads to speak.
“Arsène Wenger is without question one of the most significant managers to have graced the game of professional football here in England. From his arrival at Arsenal, it was patently clear that here was someone with tremendous foresight, fortitude and imagination. A man of high principles, he was never prepared to compromise his beliefs and, in so doing, he enhanced the history and reputation of one of the world’s great clubs.”
As the speculation swirls, perhaps a good time to look back on these quotes from Thursday’s Wenger news conference on the subject of Patrick Vieira, currently manager of New York City FC.
“He’s a guy who has the potential one day, yes,” said Wenger. “I’ve followed his managerial career. I think he does very well. But he works in the moment in New York and he works for Man City. There are plenty of former players who played here who have potential and the intelligence and the knowledge to do it. So there’s plenty of choice, don’t worry for that.”
Mikel Arteta, currently Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man at Manchester City, is another former player and captain who has been linked.
The tributes are slowing up a little but the news agenda may be about to shift when Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal CEO, holds a news conference at 5pm. We don’t think that’s going to be an announcement of the new man, more clarification and next steps. And perhaps what future role, if any, Wenger has to play at Arsenal.
And if you want to sign up for The Fiver, here’s the link
Here’s today’s Fiver which is about...well, it’s not about Richard Garlick leaving West Brom.
Guardian readers have had their say on Wenger
The aforementioned Jupp Heynckes has had plenty to say about Wenger.
He has completed a magnificent career as a coach, in France and in England. He achieved lots of successes and his teams played attractive football predominantly. He was one of the top managers in European football. I think he could maybe acquire a job as a manager [director of football], but he could also return as a coach of another team in today’s football. I do not know if he wants to do this anymore, I cannot imagine this. Actually, he does not need this anymore. He had an amazing career. With his philosophy, his style of play and his leadership style he has influenced English football in a very positive way. But in politics and in sport - when you get older someday, this will be also the case for you - you have to say, ‘it was enough’.
More Rafa on Wenger
When he came here to England, to do things in the way he did and win in the way he was winning was a massive achievement. His behaviour has always been quite good. He is an example for everyone, but especially a foreign manager like me. He was fighting and winning before me, and it was really difficult to do that. He did really well. I think it is the last time we will see this. There is so much money in football now that everyone wants things quickly and want to change things after a couple of bad results, we saw that ourselves when we had a bad run. The reality is that you have to be patient and have an idea and a plan. If you stick with the plan you have more chances to do well and that is what he did for 22 years.
Here’s what Wenger had to say on the occasion of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement five years ago next month. Makes for interesting reading and perhaps suggests he might continue in the game. There’s a few European clubs could do with someone like him, and Wenger in the Bundesliga or back in France seems in no way outlandish. Jupp Heynckes is still at it, and he’s 72, four years older, though due to retire this summer.
He is luckier than me because he likes horses, he likes golf, so he can certainly have an interesting life again. But of course when you have been such a long time involved in every [game] … our job is always looking forward to the next game, so you are always motivated by that. At the start it is difficult to miss that.
Now, of course, not everybody has been a Wenger fan down the years and Stewart Robson has been, if not a lone voice in the wilderness, then someone who has never hid his views on Arsenal’s perennial manager. Robson spoke to the BBC earlier.
He was fantastic in that period but, like a lot of dictators, they think they are going down the right road - but even when people are saying you need to change, he wouldn’t change. Arsenal under Arsene Wenger in the last few years have been too one-dimensional and behind the times in recruitment and physiotherapy. It is the best thing that could happen to Arsenal that he is leaving now.
Wilshere gives sincere thanks
To the man who gave me my chance as a 16 year old, and showed unbeliveable faith and commitment towards me. Always a gentleman, like a father through tough times in my career. He always believed in me when most people didn't. Thank you for everything boss! It's down to us no… pic.twitter.com/wTmjTSYwNx
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) April 20, 2018
Rambo tweets
It’s been an honour to play for you and win trophies with https://t.co/GfP7SLO8Fq have been a big influence in my life on and off the field from a boy to a man.I am so happy to see everyone showing gratitude and respect today because you more than deserve it.Thank you Boss pic.twitter.com/QpL7M7ZL7X
— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) April 20, 2018
Simon Smith emails in:
“I hope Kim Källström didn’t see that Wenger worst XI. In his autobiography he described scoring his FA Cup penalty as the best 15 minutes of his life – which considering he went to the World Cup with Sweden and won the French league a couple of times at Lyon is something of an achievement. Surely enough to keep him from the list?”
In mitigation, Simon, his inclusion was more to do with his being signed injured in an injury crisis and then playing only four matches. He was a good player, no doubt, but maybe not for Arsenal.
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