TalkSPORT pundit Joey Barton feels Arsenal supporters have something to worry about as Arsene Wenger could potentially be sacked from the head coach role. The 67-year-old signed a fresh two-year extension earlier in May after he guided the Gunners to their third FA Cup title in four seasons. The north London giants missed out on Champions League qualification with a fifth-placed finish last term, and they have started the new campaign in a relatively slow fashion with just 13 points from the opening eight games.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Barton believes it is only a matter of time before the Gunners’ hierarchy decide to cut ties with the long-standing manager. The former Burnley midfielder also compared the Frenchman‘s situation at the Emirates to one of a late night reveller.
He said, “These are worrying times if you’re an Arsenal fan, but if you’re [Wenger] you think the next good team is just around the corner and he’s building it. Whatever any of us thinks he’s been a phenomenal manager in the Premier League. I’m a huge fan of what Wenger has done, but sometimes you can stay at a party too long. Sometimes it’s nice to get off [home] at 12 o’clock, but it’s now about 4am and he’s staggering around absolutely bladdered waiting for someone to eject him – which is only going to be a matter of time, I think!”
Arsenal have failed to resolve the contract situations of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil since the summer, and the uncertainties over their future has been another talking point in the early part of the campaign. The pair will be entering the final six months of their respective contracts in January, and as things stand, and they could either be sold or risked on a free transfer at the end of the season. The FA Cup holders are presently nine points adrift of table-toppers Manchester City, but their immediate focus will be on the Europa League game versus Red Start Belgrade on Thursday night.
