'Wenger Out' banner spotted at anti-Trump protest march in central London
A 'Wenger Out' banner has been spotted at an anti-Trump demonstration that took place in London on Monday night.
Arsenal fan protests against the regime of their longstanding manager have flared with increasing ferocity in recent seasons and now one opportunistic campaigner has commandeered a political march for their own means.
The demonstration was taking place in the centre of the capital and saw thousands lobbying for the upcoming state visit of new US president Donald Trump to be cancelled.
Pictures of the banner quickly made it onto social media, where they were greeted by much mirth and bewilderment among football fans.
There's genuinely a Wenger out banner at a trump protest in London. Just amazing
— . (@alexburns1088) February 20, 2017
One fan's anti-Wenger placard revealed during Arsenal's defeat at Chelsea earlier in February started a heated debate on whether Arsenal fans were justified in agitating for the removal of their manager of 21 years.
Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville called the fan an "idiot" in his post-match analysis, prompting Youtube channel Arsenal Fan TV to invite him on to discuss fans' rights to an opinion. Though Neville accepted, the congress is yet to be broadcast if it has taken place.
What man has got a "Wenger Out" sign at the Trump march? I am dead. https://t.co/IlnvlxC9zd
— Haydn (@_Haydn) February 20, 2017
On the night of the latest incident during the anti-Trump march, Arsenal were in the south of the city negotiating their way through a tricky FA Cup tie at non-league Sutton United.
A ground-out 2-0 win eased fears of Wenger's greatest humiliation yet - though history suggests that even another FA Cup trophy win will not ease the Frenchman's position at the helm.
Since Arsenal's 'Invincibles' season in 2003-04, where the Gunners won the league title without losing any of their 38 matches, Wenger's only successes have come in the shape of three FA Cup triumphs.
Between 2005 and 2014, the club endured a nine-year trophy drought.
Last week, Arsenal suffered what has become known as their Champions League 'groundhog day' in a 5-1 defeat away at Bayern Munich in the first leg of the first knockout round. Arsenal fans and former players lambasted the club's perennial failure to compete at the highest level, though many have attempted to highlight how good Arsenal have still got it.
Wenger, holding the closest thing to a 'job for life' as football management can provide these days, seems finally to have had his days numbered at the Emirates Stadium.
