Telegraph: Wenger future not dependent on Cup final

By now, the Cup final nerves should have firmly kicked in, even if, like me, you were fairly nonplussed about the final this week (for the record, I started getting nervous last night while watching FA Cup highlights from 2014 and 2015). And yet while today is crucial, it will not affect the forthcoming decision about Arsene Wenger’s managerial decision, according to the Telegraph.

Jeremy Wilson reports that Wenger and Arsenal are expected to agree to a two-year contract next week, and that the result of the Cup final will be placed in the greater context of Arsenal’s performances over the past few seasons. The expectation is that Gazidis will look to appoint a sporting director, and while there will be structural changes, they won’t affect Wenger. Rather, it seems, the pieces are being put in place to effect change after Wenger’s next contract, which will almost certainly be his last with the club.

It is not hard to argue with the board’s decision to treat the FA Cup as not an isolated event. Making decisions based on a 90 (or 120 minute) game is incredibly short sighted, and goes in both directors with Wenger staying or Wenger leaving.