Arsene Wenger revealed he will make an announcement about his Arsenal future “very soon” after his side’s problems multiplied in a 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
“I know what I’ll do in my future, so you will know very soon,” Wenger told reporters after Arsenal’s fourth loss in five Premier League games.
Wenger, Arsenal’s manager since 1996, is under heavy pressure after his team were thrashed 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and fell five points off the top four in the Premier League.
Gary Cahill’s 87th-minute winner earned leaders Chelsea a 2-1 win at Stoke City that sent them 13 points clear, while champions Leicester City’s resurgence continued with a 3-2 victory at West Ham United.
Craig Dawson scored two headers at The Hawthorns as West Brom condemned Arsenal to a sixth defeat in nine games in all competitions.
Dawson’s 12th-minute opener was cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez — who was later injured — but substitute Hal Robson-Kanu restored the hosts’ lead before Dawson headed in his second goal.
Rival groups of Arsenal fans paid for two planes trailing banners to fly over the ground during the game, one reading “NO CONTRACT #WENGER OUT”, the other “IN ARSENE WE TRUST”.
“You will see,” Wenger added on the subject of his future. “Today I do not necessarily worry about that. We are in a unique bad patch we never had in 20 years.
“We lose game after game at the moment and that for me is much more important than my future.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea provisionally moved 13 points clear of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s games.
Second-place Tottenham host Southampton, while City, level on points with Spurs, entertain Liverpool, who trail Pep Guardiola’s side by a point.