Arsene Wenger could still leave Arsenal this summer

In the wake of the Bayern Munich game when he said he wanted to stay, wouldn’t retire even if he left Arsenal. He actually got spiky over a director of football a few weeks ago.

But yesterday at the training ground, Wenger was particularly strong on the notion of a restructure.

What happens at a typical pre-match press conference is that Wenger faces questions from TV, radio, local paper and agency in front of the cameras.

Wenger is clearly facing some doubts and question marks after this season. There’s this myth that goes round that the board just let him get on with it.

Well, it’s the current board - led by chief executive Ivan Gazidis - who are actually pushing for some change and even the “old school” board members share some concerns.

It’s obvious that Arsenal, in a few regards, have fallen short this season. Recruitment, player contracts (Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and the rest being allowed to run their contracts down) and, most importantly, results.

From Wenger’s perspective, the new contract has been on the table since last autumn. If he’d signed when results were going well in October then no problem. But he didn’t. Now it is a big problem of selling it to the fans.

No-one knows that more than Wenger. He is arrogant and stubborn. But he’s not stupid. He knows. But he’s also got the number of the man who counts most of all - majority shareholder Stan Kroenke who, I genuinely believe, does want trophies as well as a healthy balance sheet.

I think there have been tensions between Wenger and the board. After all, who wants their job to be questioned? But I don’t think they’ve fallen out and are not talking or anything like that. Tensions but not it’s not terminal.

But if he stays, there is a push for change. And that will involve someone being appointed to look at transfers and negotiations. That’s basically the whole crux of the matter.

And this summer is also about a rebuild. Yes, I’m aware of the whole transfer warchest jokes and that we’re told it every summer. No, the club don’t feed me that info and no, I don’t know when season ticket renewals are up.

They realise they have to spend big. And if they don’t next season will be more of the same. It’s crucial this happens and they are trying.

The worry is that if Arsenal start the season, lose a couple of games and Wenger is still in charge then an already divided bunch of fans will turn nuclear and it will get so nasty.

But if Wenger finishes top four and wins the FA Cup (and that’s a big IF) then it’s hard to argue that Arsenal haven’t had another big season.

Let’s see. But one thing’s for sure. Wenger is standing his ground and if that puts him on collision course, means he can’t stay and has to go then so be it.

I’ve been quite clear that I think it’s time for change. As much as I like Wenger, all good things come to an end. It’s impossible to thrive and succeed in a poisonous, difficult atmosphere. He should be remembered a hero and that’s the shame in all this.

Wenger is actually in a good mood right now. He’s been feeling some stress in the last week or so. But he’s in a better place than in 2014 (the last time his contract was up for renewal) when he was angry and snappy.