From #WengerOut to #WengerFinallyOut: Here’s How Twitter Reacted

Arsene Wenger was at the club for almost 22 years

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger announced on 20 April that he will step down from his role at the Premier League club at the end of the season after almost 22 years at the helm. Wenger led the club to three Premier League titles, including an unbeaten run that lasted an entire season. He also helped win seven FA Cups and took Arsenal into the Champions League for 20 years in a row.

Here’s take a look at how Twitter reacted to news of his resignation:

Arsene Wenger built the best teams that I played against in English Football .The 98 team was Amazing.The biggest compliment is that he played football that made us change the way we played against them. He now deserves the most incredible send off from all in the coming weeks.

— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 20, 2018

Arsene Wenger is to leave @Arsenal at the end of the season. He has given much of his life to Arsenal. He has brought much success to the club. He has given much to the game of football in our country. Merci et bonne chance, Monsieur Wenger. #Wenger

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 20, 2018

Sad day for @Arsenal with Arsene leaving, can we now give him the send off/respect he deserves?!! #rememberthetrophies

— David Seaman (@thedavidseaman) April 20, 2018

Wow! pic.twitter.com/4yED6f4N8m

— Sol Campbell (@SolManOfficial) April 20, 2018

British journalist Piers Morgan, who has been among the most vocal Arsenal fans calling for Wenger to leave, also took to Twitter to share an old picture of his with Wenger with line: “The hottest love has the coldest end - Socrates”

'The hottest love has the coldest end' - Socrates. pic.twitter.com/CdKp8qupl0

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 31, 2017

Football writer Henry Winter reminisced about Wenger’s time at Arsenal:

I remember talking to Sol Campbell in Colney canteen & he demonstrated how Wenger insisted if players were to drink tea or coffee (milk bad), and if you had to have sugar, there was a Wenger-approved technique of stirring it in to make all the granules absorb. Perfectionist 2/10

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 20, 2018

Wenger always dealt with fans’ interest calmly and with a smile. Walking into the 2010 World Cup final in Soweto, he stopped maybe 60-70 times to accommodate autograph requests. Had to run the last bit to get to TV studio. Always a touch of class about Wenger. 4/10

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 20, 2018

Truly obsessed with football. On his 60th birthday, we urged him after press conf at Colney to have a night off from watching football, go see a show in the West End etc. He wanted to watch a Bundesliga game but promised to put candles on top of the TV to mark his birthday. 6/10

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 20, 2018

Two days before start of this season, Wenger dropped everything to attend an FWA event raising funds for survivors of Grenfell. Spoke passionately about society’s need to protect people better. Did great Q&A. A few WengerOuts in the room and he charmed them with his dignity. 8/10

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 20, 2018

For a decade, Wenger’s football was glorious, innovative & attacking, and the Invincibles are legends. He let it drift, got overtaken, and surrounded himself with people who didn’t question him enough. Wenger right to go now and he deserves a statue outside the Emirates. 10/10

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 20, 2018

Coaches and managers from rival clubs paid tribute to Wenger.

Firstly he has had a sensational career in France and England for 20 years or so at Arsenal. He was one of the top coaches in Europe. Maybe he will take over a general manager position but to work as a coach at another club I don’t know if he wants it. I cannot imagine it. He does not need it. An outstanding career and he was a positive influence for English football with his philosophy and his style of play. But as in politics and in sports when you get a bit older you have to say ‘that’s enough.

Jupp Heynckes, Manager, Bayern Munich 

I am surprised. It is his decision. I respect that. He is an influence in football. Had a fantastic career. Outstanding personality. He was there for so long, 22 years is a long time. Maybe in the last few months not everybody was happy with this result or that.He was the dominating guy in mid 1990s, 2000s. It is different now because we have to challenge, but in Germany he was a big role model. It will be different. Maybe he will go somewhere else. I wish him all the best.

Juergen Klopp, Manager, Liverpool

Could there be a twist in the tale? A win in the Europa League and direct qualification for Arsenal in the next season of Champions League might lead to the unthinkable.

Europa League Final:
FT: Arsenal 3-1 Marseille

Arsene Wenger in the post-match press conference:pic.twitter.com/9MNykTp4F8

— • (@Beardamendi) April 20, 2018