Arsene Wenger must shun Real Madrid’s entreaties

As stung as he is by recent criticism of his rule at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger ought to think again if he feels that Real Madrid would be a better club to be at than Arsenal, warns Kevin McCarra in the Guardian.

The recent 3-0 stuffing by Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final caused the air at the Emirates "to fill with the clatter of plastic seats tipping up", as Arsenal fans evacuated the stadium after Ronaldo's goal on the hour mark.

"At such a moment it is normal to sneer at metropolitan supporters and, by way of comparison, extol the loyalty of the crowds at clubs in the north," says McCarra. "There is, however, something amiss at Arsenal and the reaction of people who spend a great deal for their tickets is not purely petulant. It was extraordinary, even so, to see Wenger showing interest in the Real Madrid job."

After all, "Wenger and Arsenal have become indistinguishable over the 13 years since his appointment." But both fans and the board have called this season past a failure, and looking at the limited resources he has had to use Wenger must cast an envious eye at the riches enjoyed by the Real manager.

He should cut that right out, cautions McCarra. "Any concept of him preferring to work for Real Madrid does still make the head swim. The club is the incarnation of all that offends Wenger in the contemporary football world. The detested 'financial doping' is a manifesto commitment by Florentino Pérez, who expects to regain the presidency with his pledge to bring in a new wave of galácticos.

"If continuity is the key for Wenger, he should keep his distance. During his last six-year period at the Bernabéu Pérez got through half a dozen managers: Vicente del Bosque, Carlos Queiroz, José Antonio Camacho, Mariano García Remón, Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Juan Ramón López."

Wenger should count his blessings: he has a friendly board, fans who still adore him and the prospect of managing a club with a sold-out 60,000-seater stadium "that should be astoundingly rich once £318m of debt incurred in the exercise has been cleared."

Stick in there, Arsene. ·