ARSENE WENGER HAS revealed that he will return to football management when the timing is right.
The former Arsenal manager has been without a managerial role since leaving the Emirates at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
Speaking to BeIN Sports, the former Gunners manager revealed that he has been asked to return to the dugout, but that now is not the right time to do so.
“I rejected some nice offers because I did not feel ready,” said Wenger.
“Maybe I realised how much I was in my own bubble, alienating myself from the rest of the world when I was managing.
“Putting a bit of distance between myself and our world made me hesitate to jump back into the fire-pit so quickly.
“I did it for 35 years without any interruption,” added the 69-year-old. “So I was able to leave the bubble and open my eyes and that took me time.
“You will see me in a dugout again, when, I don’t know exactly.
Wenger managed the north London club from 1996-2018, and left as the club’s longest-serving and most successful manager in their entire history.
Having managed in his native country at both Nancy and Monaco, Wenger also spent a brief period in charge of J League side Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan, before making the switch to Arsenal.
His well-known policy of youth development and scouting for talent abroad helped bring in the likes of current forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who were both club-record signings when they arrived at the club in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The Frenchman won his seventh Community Shield in his penultimate season in charge, adding to his seven FA Cups and three Premier League titles, the last of which represents his most successful campaign in which Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ went through the entire league season undefeated.
Wenger announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2017-18 season in April of that campaign, with his successful and lengthy tenure ending fittingly in a 1-0 away win at Huddersfield, after guiding the Gunners to a 5-0 victory over Burnley in his final home game as manager.
Murray Kinsella joins Gavan Casey, Ryan Bailey and Sean Farrell with their immediate reaction to Ireland’s 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Frawley deserves to keep his spot in the squad. Would go for 6/2 split with Frawley covering. Tough on Ringrose, but shows the depth of the squad at the moment. The impact of the 6 forward has been massive each time.
@Luke Guerin: Agree. This makes sense
@Luke Guerin: I think it can go either way Ringrose or Frawley in a 6:2 split. Ringrose kicked for Blackrock, while still a centre, during his early years.
@Luke Guerin: It’s a very fair shout but you could definitely argue the toss. I would guess Farrell will go 5:3 on the bench for England. The bench we had the last day in the forwards was immense and made a huge impact but we were definitely treading water out the backs in the final quarter. We could end up, like we did against Wales, with a centre on the wing, and we are then just one more incident away from a patchwork back line. Probably too big a risk for such a big game. For me I’d be more comfortable with a 5:3 with Murray, Frawley, Ringrose.
@Mark Murphy: agreed, AF will drop Baird for Ringrose and play it safe . We’d have huge problems if one of our centres or wings went down injured early on v England
@Mark Murphy: yeah, fair point. No reason to take such a risk I suppose. Have loved our version of the bomb squad though
@Luke Guerin: Keenan not back in training today, so discussion may be academic. If he’s not back, I guess it will be 6/2 and Ringrose will get 23. And is there a hint that Tadhg F is out? Only reason why Bealham would not be risked for the Connacht game.
@Luke Guerin: This is the challenge Farrell faces… it’s a tough one, but much better to have to choose from too many good players than not enough. As brilliant as Frawley was on Saturday, Ringrose is a 50 cap player, 2nd only to BOD in the 13 jersey. The question is not whether or not Ringrose is in the 23, its who drops out for him – Henshaw or Frawley?
Henshaw went v well indeed in the first 2 games. That said, he looked very slow against wales (I thought that ‘burst’ down the line where he kicked ahead was POM as Henshaw looked like a forward. Add to that 2 things :
1. Ireland rarely got outside Wales outside of kick passes (bravo to the 2 young lads) & Henshaw a primary reason here in terms of his style of play, & lack of pace
2. Whilst Aki & Henshaw are not the Danae player, they have a lot more in common with each other than either do with Ringrose. Ringrose offers so much more in attack, better lines, better play making, and this spread of playmsking amongst Crowley / Sexton, Ringrose, Keenan and Hansen has been critical for Ireland the past 3 years. Ringrose has to start, we will not maul England as much as in the first 2 games.
@Andrew Hurley: just checking, are you Ringrose agent, the missed tackle count is well down, with Ringrose not playing.
@Michael Colleary: ‘missed’ tackles dont tell the whole story as regards defensive nous. U can ‘miss’ a rush up tackle but still be very effective to the defensive line’s integrity oddly enough
So 5/3 split, we lose Conan or Baird?
6/2 split we lose Frawley or Ringrose?
Bealham is miles ahead of Jager so that’s an easy one.
The other decisions ain’t easy but I’d go with Conan & Frawley as those 2 sit better in Faz’s framework to date
I would reinstate Keenan and Ringrose, Henshaw no 23 with Byrne 22 in a 5/3 split. Can someone let Andy know, I dont have his number oddly enough. Ringrose is our outstanding and natural 13 imo, no disrespect to Henshaw who has been excellent in first 2 games
@Arjuna: Byrne? whaa?
Farrell needs to have a good think before selecting the team. England and Scotland have world class place kickers and they will kick Ireland off the park if they continue to give away stupid penalties. I suspect James Ryan might be reinstated over McCarthy for that reason (although the McCarthy Itoje battle
Might be epic). Regardless I think Ireland need to be much more direct with England as the pretty rugby in the first half last week didn’t translate into a decent points margin.