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‘Wenger’s reign at Arsenal is exhausted’

After a miserable week for Arsenal, journalist Oliver Holt has claimed that Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal ‘exhausted’ and his time as manager should be finally brought to an end.

Arsenal showed just how far they were from being a title contender twice in the last week, being beaten 3-0 by Manchester City twice in five days, before being beaten by Brighton this weekend.

The Gunners have virtually no hope of qualifying for the Champions League for the second season in a row, currently sitting 13 points behind fourth placed Tottenham.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement programme, Holt said:

“There was something about this week that seemed to strike a lot of people, and the second defeat to Man City felt like a line in the sand.

“Part of it I think is because Man City were what Arsenal used to be and Arsenal looked like the past. I think it showed how far off the pace Arsenal have gone, everything just seems tired and stale.

“I think Wenger’s reign at Arsenal is exhausted and as many people have said this week, it feels like it is at a point where someone has to tell him that it’s over, and it would almost be a kindness I think now.

“Most people in football accept that he has been a great thing for English football. In many ways, he revolutionised what English football is when he arrived in his country and he has always conducted himself with great elegance and grace and his teams have been fantastic to watch but you can’t really say that anymore.”

Holt continued:

“They finished second a couple of seasons ago, they won the FA Cup two years on the spin so I think some of the resentment against Wenger has been misplaced but they finished outside of the Champions League places last season and will do this season.

“They are 13 points behind Tottenham at the moment and 30 points behind the leaders, Man City. I think at the moment, sadly, Arsenal look like a team who are going backwards.

“Other teams are going forwards, like Liverpool and Spurs, and even Manchester United are recovering some of the ground they lost and Arsenal aren’t.

“I think the two games against Man City showed how far Arsenal have slipped from the team they once were and how far off Wenger has become in terms of cutting edge.”

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