ARSENE WENGER rejected several “lucrative offers” to leave Arsenal during his time at the club, according to ex-Gunner Aaron Ramsey.
The Frenchman took over as Arsenal manager in 1996 and spent 22 years in North London before leaving at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
However, Ramsey claims he could have left the club much sooner.
In an interview with FourFourTwo, the former Arsenal midfielder, who played under Wenger for ten years, said: “He put everything into the club over so many years.
“Despite so many obstacles, he ensured that we kept qualifying for the Champions League and picking up silverware.
“He turned down so many lucrative offers to stay and help Arsenal to compete against teams who were spending absolute fortunes.”
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Towards the end of his tenure at the Emirates Stadium, Wenger, 73, received heavy criticism from fans.
After Wenger left, now-Aston Villa manager Unai Emery took the helm, but things failed to improve.
And Ramsey believes he deserved more appreciation from fans.
The midfielder added: “I think that when he finally left, lots of people began to appreciate what he actually did.
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“He went above and beyond what almost anyone else has ever done for Arsenal. I was very proud to play for him.
“Now he has his statue outside the ground and no one deserves it more. He deserved better towards the end.”
Wenger, who won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups with the Gunners, is now serving as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are sitting third in the Premier League table, just one point behind leaders Manchester City.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
