Perhaps Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a “manager for life.” Despite the growing unrest within the Gunners community, Wenger’s seat remains as cool as a cucumber. He knows it too. It seems every time the backlash against the Frenchman strengthens, Wenger still retains “no doubt” that he’s remaining in charge at the Emirates next season.
Many Gunners supporters are very unhappy with Wenger for his failure to lead Arsenal to a league title this decade. Other supporters are mad about his stance on an off-the-the pitch issue, the British vote a couple weeks ago over whether to exit the European Union or not, a story the media labeled “Brexit.”
Before the vote, Wenger pontificated that the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union. Today, Wenger told France Football that the referendum results shocked him, and that he believes the Brexit decision will adversely impact the Premier League.
Via ESPN FC, “While he feels TV money will soften the blow for English clubs in the short term, the Gunners boss believes that the vote could result in the Premier League becoming less powerful.”
“The players are going to see their salaries drop a little bit and the competition with Germany, for example, is going to be stronger,” Wenger said.
“But that’s part of the risks of the profession and that worries me less.
“England has, all the same, a lot of resources in terms of finances. There’s leeway with the [TV] money that’s going to be brought in this year as well.
“But in my opinion it’s particularly in the long term that there are questions. The way in which England leaves Europe will dictate the future of the Premier League.
“If the league becomes less attractive, TV companies will spend less money, the revenues of clubs are going to decrease and the Premier League is going to suffer the consequences. That’s where the problem is.”
Via the Daily Express, here’s the viewpoint that Wenger expressed ahead of the Brexit vote:
The French manager has penned a “love letter” for Britons ahead of the EU referendum – together with Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker, ex-Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, chef Raymond Blanc and former Abba star Björn Ulvaeus.
In total, 140 European figures from the worlds of science, sport and the arts have pleaded with UK voters to stay in the EU on June 23. Published in the Times Literary Supplement, the letter reads: “All of us in Europe respect the right of the British people to decide whether they wish to remain with us in the EU.
“It is your decision, and we will all accept it. Nevertheless, if it will help the undecided to make up their minds, we would like to express how very much we value having the UK in the EU.
“It is not just treaties that join us to your country, but bonds of admiration and affection.
“All of us hope that you will vote to renew them. Britain, please stay.”
Brexit is a very serious issue, with the end result having severe worldwide economic implications. Birmingham native, Liverpool FC fan and comedian John Oliver made Brexit his main story on the Sunday preceding the vote.
Like Wenger, Oliver was against it.
Here’s how he broke it down.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Brexit, check out this Los Angeles Times op-ed by Professor Justin Hughes, who teaches international trade and intellectual property law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram