Arsene Wenger has said the Emirates atmosphere and mood of fans will shape his decision over whether to remain Arsenal manager.
Wenger, however, said he will not be influenced by any desire to safeguard his legacy.
Friends and former players have become concerned that Wenger risks damaging his reputation as Arsenal’s greatest ever manager by staying on next season amid the repeated failure to challenge for either the Champions League or Premier League, but he does not regard that as a valid factor in his decision.
“Fans will have an influence,” said Wenger. “You consider everything. It will not be the most important factor but it will influence of course. I work very hard for 20 years to make the fans happy.
“When we lose I understand they are not. I don’t want to judge; I do my daily work with my commitment. You have to accept different opinions.”
Asked whether he was concerned for his “legacy”, Wenger said: “I don’t work for my image, I work for this club with full commitment. After, how I will be judged is not too much my problem.
“I think I have shown I love this club, that I am loyal, that I make the right decisions. I will continue to do that by respecting the values that I think are vital for me.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal has issued a vote of confidence in Wenger, insisting that both club and manager will decide on his future together.
For the first time, club Chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, has gone public to confirm that the decision on whether Wenger stays or goes will be made by the board as well as the manager.
The statement read: “We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate.
“We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.
“Arsene has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way.”
Wenger has won nine major trophies at Arsenal, but only two of those – both FA Cups – have come in the last 10 years.
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