Wenger had multiple offers for other jobs (Picture: Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger reveals 'regret' and 'mistake' over Arsenal career

by · Metro

Arsene Wenger has admitted he regrets not leaving Arsenal earlier than 2018 as he revealed multiple job offers he turned down in order to remain at the club.

The iconic former Gunners manager won three league titles and seven FA Cups over a 22-year spell in north London, with his ‘Invincibles’ team of 2003/04 remaining the only Premier League side to go an entire campaign without losing.

A section of the Gunners fanbase, however, began to turn on Wenger in his final years at the Emirates as the team steadily declined, which Sir Alex Ferguson believes they should feel ‘ashamed’ over.

The Frenchmen eventually left the club in 2018 (Picture: Getty Images)

The Frenchman eventually departed following the conclusion of the 2017/18 campaign, bringing an end to his long reign in north London.

Speaking in the new film, Arsene Wenger: Invincible, which is in cinemas from November 11, the 72-year-old conceded that he should’ve left the club earlier than he did.

‘I identified myself completely with the club – that was the mistake I made,’ said Wenger.

‘My fatal flaw is I love too much where I am… where I was. I regret it. I should have gone somewhere else.’ 

A crucial moment for Wenger was when David Dein left his role as vice-chairman in 2007, but instead of going with him, he stuck with the club.

The Gunners legend added: ‘Sometimes I wonder – was something broken after that Invincible season?

‘2007 was a decisive point. It was the first time I could feel there were tensions inside the board. I was torn between being loyal to the club and being loyal to David [Dein]. 

‘I still today wonder if I did the right thing because life was never exactly the same after. I thought, “I have now to go to the end of this project”.

‘I could have gone to the French national team. The English national team twice or three times even. I could have gone twice to Real Madrid. I could have gone to Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, even Man United.’

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