Dein: Wenger almost quit
09 Sep 2007 - 12:34:37
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has claimed that manager Arsene Wenger considered quitting the Gunners during the summer.
Wenger finally ended speculation about his Emirates Stadium future after putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract on Friday.
But Dein, who left the club in April following a disagreement with the board over potential future investment, claims the Frenchman had contemplated ending his 11-year reign when his contract expired at the end of the current season.
"When I left his future was very much in the balance," Dein told Sky Sports News.
"He said to me at the time that he wasn't sure if he wanted to stay on.
"We had a chat and I thought it was important that he should stay on for the future of the club.
"With the players that he is bringing through and his eye for talent, it was a major decision for him to stay.
"It was terribly important for the club that he should re-sign. I think he is essential.
"In fact he is more than that. I think he is vital to the future of the football club."
Dein has been linked with a possible future takeover of the Gunners after selling his 15 per cent stake in the club to Alisher Usmanov last month.
He was subsequently named chairman of the Russian billionaire's holding company, Red and White.