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Arsenal legends tell Wenger: Go NOW

Groundhog Day: Here we go, again
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger urged to quit by two of his former players

Arsenal legends Lee Dixon and Martin Keown have suggested the moment has come for Arsene Wenger to call time on his 21-year reign as the club’s manager.

After a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the last-16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night, Dixon and Keown both suggested change needs to be forthcoming at Arsenal at the end of this season.

The duo who worked under Wenger in his formative years as Arsenal boss clearly took no pleasure in calling for his departure, yet their message was clear in their respective roles as TV pundits.

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Dixon suggested Wenger’s reign should end after he watched his crestfallen TV interview in Munich, as he offered up these comments to ITV Sport.

“It saddens me to see him like that,” stated Dixon. “I know how much he is hurting.

“I know what a winner he is and I know how his team have always responded to a certain level in the past. That level is no longer good enough.

“When I look at that team, I see a nice team, but that is not what wins you cups at this level. He has always prided himself on turning things around, but I think he realises he is getting no response from this team. That is why he is so down.

“They fight for so long and then they lose inspiration. Those players are not good enough and he owes it to himself to change it.

“That is the first time tonight that I have seen him and he thinks its time (to step down).”

Keown admitted he also felt sympathy for Wenger, as he suggested his exit has been cemented after the humiliation in Munich.

“There is no doubt that this is a massive low point for him and this will only bring forward the change that looks ever likely at the end of this season,” Keown told BT Sport.

“It will be him that makes the decision and that realisation that the change needs to come is more apparent than ever now. You could see it in his eyes that reluctantly, he is going to have to hand over the reins to someone else.

“It was almost embarrassing. Outclassed, outplayed. Arsene Wenger must seriously be considering his future. It’s embarrassing.

“It has been too many years of young players, waiting for them to turn it around and where is that next big trophy coming from?

“The intelligent thing is for the manager to decide when you walk. All the great managers know how to do that and I’m sure the club will look at it now.”