Personally, I expect today will be dominated by sadness. It’s the end of a long story for me at Arsenal. But I will also feel grateful for having led this club - that I cherish so much - for such a long time.” “I tried to commit completely, for so many years, to make people happy and I wish just that people who love this club will be happy in the future and get what they really want and love.
“I’ve met people for whom I am the only Arsenal manager they have known, so now this is a good opportunity for the club to have new people and new ideas to continue to move the club forward, which is what I’ve tried to do my whole life.
“I’m proud that over the decades we could maintain an identification of players to the club. The players have a special attachment. Part of life as a player is to experience a special place, and that’s Arsenal.
“I’m not involved in who my successor will be, that’s not my job, but what I would say to him is that he should follow what he thinks is right for the club. I’ve been guided by that my whole life here.
“You have to think and act for the club like you own it. That’s the advice I’d give to him, you have to prepare to have that strength to fight every day to do the best possible for Arsenal.
“My final message is to the fans. Thank you very much for all your support down the years. Continue to stand behind and support the club that is so special to all of us. No matter what happens in the future, keep faith in what the club is going.
“Like you, I will continue to support Arsenal for the rest of my life.
Arsene Wenger will bring down the curtain on 22 years at Arsenal at the end of the season, and on Sunday will lead the side for the last time at home.
The visit of Burnley represents another chance for the Emirates Stadium to laud the manager who revolutionised both Arsenal and English football.
After the midweek loss at Atletico, the home faithful will be just as desperate as Wenger for the Gunners to get back to winning ways.
The Clarets meanwhile were ranked among the relegation favourites at the start of the campaign but are virtually assured of a seventh-placed finish and a first taste of European football in more than 50 years next season.
With two games to go they boast a six-point lead over Everton, who also need a 15-goal swing in their favour.
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Chambers, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Long, Tarkowski, Ward, Lennon, Cork, Hendrick, Westwood, Gudmundsson, Barnes
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Arsene Wenger has been speaking to Sky Sports reflecting on his time managing Arsenal.
On his final lap of honour: "It's very emotional it's the last time in such a long time and such a big love story, so of course we don't want to end it ideally, but everything comes to an end."
On reflecting on this season: "It's a season of contrast. It's maybe our best home season but it didn't end like we wanted it."
On what he does next: "I'm so much focused. You just focus and be robotic and think about the next game. It will take me some time to reconnect with myself and think about what I want to do."
On his best season: "As a manager the target is to get the best out of the team when you don't lose a game you think you can't get much better. You have to be honest with yourself and see where the team is."
On Sir Alex Ferguson: "I'm concerned because last week we were together i trust his strengths and optimistic character to get over that quickly."
On his achievements: "First of all I've been faithful to the values. I think over a long period is to deal with integrity team spirit and the values of the club."
Bola.com, London - Semua mata pecinta sepak bola dunia akan tertuju kepada Arsene Wenger saat Arsenal menjamu Burnley pada pertandingan pekan ke-37, di Stadion Emirates, Minggu (6/5/2018). Ini akan menjadi pertandingan terakhir Wenger di markas The Gunners.
Arsenal telah menyatakan akan meninggalkan Arsenal pada akhir musim. Manajer Prancis itu telah menghabiskan 22 tahun berkarier di Tim Meriam London.
Melawan Burnley akan menjadi pertandingan kandang terakhir Arsenal pada musim ini. Pada dua laga sisa, Henrikh Mkhitaryan dan kawan-kawan akan bertandang ke markas Leicester City dan Huddersfield Town.
"Saya merasa sedih karena saya mencintai klub ini dan apa yang merepresentasikan semua hal karena Anda tidak pergi selama 22 tahun dalam kehidupan. Namun, saya harus menghadapi situasi ini dalam hidup dan saya mungkin saja akan melakukannya lagi nanti," kata Wenger.
Saat ini, Arsenal masih tertahan di peringkat keenam klasemen sementara Premier League dengan perolehan poin 57. Apabila mampu bertahan di posisi itu, Arsenal akan mengamankan jatah Liga Europa musim depan, karena Manchester City--yang juara Piala Liga Inggris--akan tampil di ajang Liga Champions.
Meski di atas kertas lebih diunggulkan, Arsenal tentu tidak boleh meremehkan Burnley. Apalagi, skuat asuhan Sean Dyche mulai menemukan permainan terbaiknya setelah sempat terpuruk dalam beberapa pertandingan terakhir.
Burnley juga berpeluang tampil di ajang Liga Europa musim depan lewat fase kualifikasi. Burnley berada di peringkat kedelapan dengan perolehan poin 54.
"Para pemain layak mendapat pujian besar pada musim ini. Tidak ada musim yang membuat kami merasa begitu bangga seperti sekraang, meski kami sempat terdegradasi (2015)," kata Sean Dyche.
Terkait rekor pertemuan, Arsenal mampu memenangi enam pertandingan terakhir melawan Burnley di berbagai ajang, atau semenjak kalah 0-1 melawan klub tersebut pada Liga Inggris 1974.
Burnley juga belum pernah mengalahkan Arsenal dalam sembilan pertandingan terakhir di berbagai kompetisi. Terakhir kali mereka menang terjadi pada Desember 2018 saat mengalahkan Arsenal 2-0, di Turf Moor.
Arsenal: Petr Cech; Nacho Monreal, Rob Holding, Skhodran Mustafi, Hector Bellerin; Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey; Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Burnley: Pope; Matthew Lowton, James Tarkowski, Kevin Long, Stephen Ward; Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Ashley Westwood, Jack Cork, Aaron Lennon; Sam Vokes, Ashley Barnes
