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Arsenal transfer strategy remains in Arsene Wenger's control as club 'ditches director of football shake-up plans'

Board was expected to make senior appointment but long-serving Frenchman looks set to maintain all his power

Evan Bartlett
Tuesday 13 June 2017 17:35 BST
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The status quo looks set to be maintained at Arsenal with Wenger continuing to wield much of the power
The status quo looks set to be maintained at Arsenal with Wenger continuing to wield much of the power

Arsenal appear to have ditched their plan to appoint a new director of football after facing opposition from manager Arsene Wenger.

The board had been expected to bring in a new man to shake-up the club's transfer dealings, in part to satisfy disgruntled fans after offering the Frenchman a new two-year contract.

However, it looks as though they have now decided to maintain much of the status quo and will bring in a more junior person to help with transfer policy instead, according to the Times.

Wenger faced unprecedented levels of opposition from the club's fans last season after leading them to their lowest finish in the Premier League since he joined the club in 1996.

After failing to qualify for the Champions League, it was widely expected the 67-year-old would leave the club or at least have to drastically change his management style and structure.

Former players Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Patrick Vieira were all touted as possible sporting directors as well as Monchi - who ended up at Roma - and Dortmund's Michael Zorc.

Yet Wenger always appeared resistant to the idea of someone else having control over identifying new transfer targets and brokering deals.

"No, director of football? I don't know what it means," he said last month.

"Is it someone who stands on the road and directs the players left and right? I never understand what it means, director of football.

"I'm manager of Arsenal and as long as I am manager I will decide what happens on the technical front. That's it."

The Times reports that Wenger will also maintain his entire backroom staff after rumours that goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton and fitness Tony Colbert were due to be shown the door.

Ivan Gazidis, the club's chief executive, said this summer would be a "catalyst" for change.

Many Arsenal fans will now be wondering exactly what that means.

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