Arsene Wenger bemoans 'age discrimination' amid fresh speculation over Arsenal future

Arsene Wenger has hit out at speculation over his Arsenal future that he believes has descended into “age discrimination” amid fresh claims linking the club with a new manager.

Reports in the German press claimed that former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel is primed to take over from Wenger at the end of the season, though it should be noted that Arsenal’s newly-appointed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat endured a frosty relationship with the rumoured candidate whilst the two were working together at the Westphalenstadion.

Speculation over Wenger’s future at Arsenal is not likely to end anytime soon, particularly with next season representing the final year of a two-season extension the 68-year-old signed less than a year ago.

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In the intervening time Wenger has struggled to re-establish Arsenal in the upper echelons of the Premier League and they are almost certain to end the season outside the top four, meaning they must win the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League.

However Wenger claims that it is his age, and not Arsenal’s faltering form, that is leading to questions over his future.

“You focus on doing well for your club and ignore all the rest,” he told beIN Sports. "Overall the older you get the more it becomes a little bit age discrimination.

“I can accept that if the results are not good enough. We are in a job where we have to deal with the consequences but overall that perpetual thing of a link with how long you’ve been at the club, how old you are, I find that a bit difficult to take.

“All the rest I accept. I am in a public job where I have to make results and I’m responsible for them.”

Wenger’s power base has slowly ebbed away even after the signing of a two-year extension last summer, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis having overhauled Arsenal’s backroom functions to make the club significantly less reliant on their manager of the last 21 years.

Those changes appear to have placed ever greater pressure on Wenger to secure success on the pitch, which can only be achieved in the Europa League this season.

Arsenal face a last eight tie with CSKA Moscow next month and are widely considered second favourites to claim the title behind Atletico Madrid.

Asked whether a Europa League win in Lyon next May would represent the perfect ending Wenger added: “I am not too concerned by image. I focus on working with the values that are important, to give my best for the club.

“I am naive enough to believe that with the time going on, the perspective, the emotional context going, it will stand out what I’ve done for my club, not so much the last result or the last game I won or how much I’ve been applauded.

“’m a little bit fed up with all that modern thing of completely taking care of your image. I’ve always worked my whole life with the idea it’s more important who you are than how you look.”