There is a wonderful picture of a glorious sunny day at Wembley, Arsene Wenger holding the FA Cup aloft in front of some of the supporters who made his life a misery last season.

If ever there was a good time to call it a day, that was it. Arsenal’s greatest ever manager riding off into the sunset having won yet another trophy and won back the fans.

There would have been no better send off.

And this is not being wise after the event. I hate to say I told you so, but I really did last May .

It was stale last season, it needed change and yet far too many people got carried away amid the cup final euphoria.

Video Loading

Maybe winning the cup only succeeded in papering over the cracks.

People kidded themselves that it would be different, new signings, new staff and a new Wenger.

But here we are, three months down the line and it’s the same old Arsenal, the same old story after another shambolic defeat.

Video Loading

Sadly, it somehow feels worse because the lessons haven’t been learnt and the opportunity for a glorious farewell has gone. Now it will just get uglier and more painful.

I think Wenger is a genius, he is the best manager Arsenal have ever had and arguably ever will.

We will probably only truly appreciate him after he has left.

He was a revolutionary for English football, not just Arsenal, helped design and even pay for the new stadium.

But there is little room for sentiment in football.

Video Loading

And Wenger got a new contract based on what he has done in the past rather than what he can do in the future.

Nothing has changed to arrest the steady but alarming decline at the club.

They used to be champions, were contenders and are now also-rans.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates victory after the FA Cup Final win (
Image:
Getty)

The coaching staff has changed very slightly, people have been moved sideways rather than being shipped out.

Jens Lehmann was appointed but he was around the training ground all the time anyway.

Now no-one knows exactly what he does. We were told he would knock the players into shape, they’d be scared of Jens. Didn’t look like it on Sunday.

The squad is basically the same. The two big signings - Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac - did not even start at Liverpool.

The summer has been a disaster, the performance at Anfield was a shambles and we’re back to where we were last season.

Wenger has too much power. He goes way beyond the normal manager.

Arsene Wenger manager of Arsenal looks all alone (
Image:
Andrew Powell/Liverpool)

Last season, the chief executive Ivan Gazidis pushed for change - his famous “catalyst for change” remarks - but clearly did not get enough support to bring about even evolution let alone revolution.

It’s in decline. People at the club know it, they’re afraid to admit it and Wenger is in denial.

He is addicted to football and Arsenal, desperate for one last crack at glory.

But rather than restore his reputation, he is destroying it.

poll loading

With FA Cup-winning manager Arsene Wenger under pressure at Arsenal, we want to know: Do you get thanked enough by your bosses at work?

1000+ VOTES SO FAR