Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: 5 things we learned – Era has ended

By Andrew Dowdeswell

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 03: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 03: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Arsene Wenger
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

1. Sorry Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger wanted a heroic, wonderful, celebratory goodbye. For that, he needed his team to work their magic. Predictably, they couldn’t.

Wenger will now bow out having lost in the third round of the FA Cup, in the final of the EFL Cup, in the semi-final of the Europa League, and likely in sixth position in the Premier League, the lowest position that the club has ever finished throughout his 22-year tenure.

Romantically, I still wanted Wenger to stay. I, and many others like me, had this dream that he would get to end on a high, that he would, like his great adversary Sir Alex Ferguson, get to ride off into the sunshine with a united adulation behind him. That, unfortunately, will not be happening.

Next: Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: Player ratings

Was he let down by his players? Did he protect the board and the owners? Is Wenger himself to blame? They are all questions for another time. For now, this is a time of grief and sorrow. Wenger will leave with a whimper. That may be the saddest part of all this.