Arsene Wenger must quit Arsenal if he wants to secure Gunners legacy, says club legend Alan Smith

ALAN SMITH has told Arsene Wenger he needs to quit Arsenal NOW.

The former Gunners striker believes the club are now “treading water” and Wenger can only blow away the “toxic atmosphere” and secure his own legacy by calling time on his 20-year reign.

AP:Associated Press

Club legend Ian Wright last night branded branded Wenger’s flops a “f****** shambles.”

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And Smith has now joined fans’ calls for the Frenchman to quit in the wake of the 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Smith, who netted 115 goals in 347, said: “I think they’ve come to the end of a cycle.

“It’s time for a new man in the job, a new voice and different methods.

“I think if he announced today or tomorrow that he was stepping down at the end of the season he would then be revered as the legend he is at the football club.

“That toxic atmosphere would be taken away in a heartbeat and it would help the team because the atmosphere would completely change at the Emirates and towards him.

“I just don’t think you can be treading water in this way now, particularly with the fans’ attitude towards it.

Getty Images

Getty Images

"It might be that they have to take a step back to take a step forward.

"I don't think fans would mind that because they're in a rut and they've got to do something to get out of it."

Wenger was in a bleak mood after the game and answered just three questions during his post-match press conference.

Smith reckons it was as low as he has seen the 67-year-old, who will make a decision on whether to pen a two-year extension at the end of the season.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Smith added: "The offer of a two-year contract would appear to be on the table but that's as down as I've seen him in 20 years.

"It's in the immediate aftermath of a humiliation, so in a couple of days he might regain a bit of enthusiasm.

"If he is planning on stepping down I think he's got to tell the board because they've got to plan for life without him."

PA:Press Association

EPA

Smith also slammed the lack of leaders at the club, with Kieran Gibbs ending up with the captain's armband after Laurent Koscielny was forced off injured against Bayern.

Smith said: "It's all a bit too nice. That's the overriding culture of the club and that has to change if they're to compete in the future.

"Quite clearly Kieran isn't a leader and in many ways he kind of typifies the situation there. They're not overly pushed.

"Somebody like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should have kicked on over the last few years but there hasn't been that demand for improvement in the way that there would be at other clubs."