Arsène Wenger has been left saddened at being effectively forced out of Arsenal after 22 years yesterday after indications from the board that he would be sacked at the end of the season if he did not resign. The club allowed Wenger to choose the timing of the announcement regarding his departure, but not that this would be his last season at Arsenal having gradually come to the decision to pursue a new direction during a campaign when they have fallen 33 points behind the champions Manchester City.

Wenger is understood to be upset that he was asked to leave because he wanted to see out the final 12 months of a two-year contract that he signed last summer. The Frenchman has suspected the end