Arsene Wenger unhappy with “age discrimination” amid talk of Arsenal exit

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes he is the target of “age discrimination” as pressure continues to build on the Frenchman.

Wenger, 68, has come under heavy criticism in recent years from Arsenal supporters, with the club currently enduring a 14-season run without a Premier League trophy. This term, they find themselves 13 points outside the top four and so the Europa League represents their only realistic shot of getting back into the Champions League, having missed out on qualification for the first time last year. NaijaBet.com

The Frenchman’s contract expires at the end of next season, but fans are calling for Wenger to step down in the summer and former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel is said to have held talks with the club.

Despite speculation surrounding his future, Wenger has since claimed that the growing pressure is a direct result of his age.

Speaking with BeIN Sport (via ESPN), he said: “You focus on doing well for your club and ignore all the rest. Overall the older you get the more it becomes a little bit [like] age discrimination.

“I can accept that if the results are not good enough. We are in a job where we have to deal with the consequences but overall that perpetual thing of a link with how long you’ve been at the club, how old you are, I find that a bit difficult to take.

“All the rest I accept. I am in a public job where I have to make results and I’m responsible for them.”

Wenger orchestrated the Gunners’ three FA Cup wins in the past four seasons, and could achieve further success in the Europa League this campaign. NaijaBet.com

The Arsenal manager also still feels that his recent triumphs will be remembered alongside his early successes in north London when he does call time on his period in charge.

He continued: “I am not too concerned [by my public image].

“I focus on working with the values that are important, to give my best for the club.

“I am naive enough to believe that with the time going on, the perspective, the emotional context going, it will stand out what I’ve done for my club, not so much the last result or the last game I won or how much I’ve been applauded. NaijaBet.com

“I’m a little bit fed up with all that modern thing of completely taking care of your image. I’ve always worked my whole life with the idea it’s more important who you are than how you look.”

Arsenal are set to miss out on a Champions League place in the Premier League, but could enter the elite competition next season should they win the Europa League. They host CSKA Moscow on 5 April in the quarter-finals, before travelling to Russia for the return leg on 12 April.