Arsene Wenger is a victim of his own success at Arsenal, to sack him would be unfair, says Liam Brady

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James Benge22 February 2017

Arsenal legend Liam Brady has come to the defence of the embattled Arsene Wenger, labelling the Gunners boss “a victim of his own success”.

Pressure on Wenger spiked dramatically last week after a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich all but ended their Champions League campaign at the last 16 stage for the seventh consecutive year.

Wenger’s side are 10 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea but are well placed for a run in the FA Cup; they will face National League side Lincoln in the sixth round after eliminating Sutton United on Monday.

Speaking before the game Wenger insisted he would manage next season regardless of whether he signs an extension to his Arsenal contract which expires this summer.

The 61-year-old Brady has been a close colleague of Wenger for many years, serving as director of Arsenal’s youth setup between 1996 and 2014, and warned the Frenchman’s detractors to remember what life was like before the current manager arrived.

Brady said on Eamon Dunphy’s Stand podcast: “We competed maybe twice in the old European Cup, once under George Graham and once under Bertie Mee.

“He’s a victim of his own success really.

Arsene Wenger's rumoured successors at Arsenal

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“Lots of fans have been brought up on the team he created. [Patrick] Vieira and [Emmanuel] Petit and they are craving those days again, but it’s easier said than done. Be careful what you wish for.

“You have to look at the financial clout of the clubs he’s competing against. In those [early] days, he wasn’t competing against a Chelsea with [Roman] Abramovich or a Man City with Abu Dhabi money. Even Tottenham were a poor shadow of what they are now. Liverpool have invested a lot of money. Man United are a money machine.

“To keep the team consistently in the last 10 years in the top four, without having the money to spend… I know he’s spent money, but nothing compared to the likes of Chelsea, Man City and Man United have been able to afford, I think you have to take all that into consideration.”

Majority shareholder Stan Kroenke are expected to leave any decision on Wenger’s future up to the manager himself, who said on two occasions last week that he will make a decision on whether to sign a new contract in March or April.

Some of his most vocal critics among an increasingly fractious supporter base believed that the Bayern defeat should have led to Wenger’s immediate exit, not an approach that Brady supports.

“To sack a manager with a record like [Wenger’s] would seem unfair. I think Arsene Wenger is in a position himself where he has to reflect on what he wants to do and I’m sure he’s doing to do that over the next few weeks.

In Pictures | Sutton United vs Arsenal | 20/02/2017

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“Some serious discussions are going to have to go on between Arsene and the principal owner Stan Kroenke and they’ve got to work it out between them whether Arsene is going to go on managing this club.”

Brady added: “He is like the CEO of a big business and he has delivered year-in year-out as regards to the results the owners are looking for.”

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