David Dein believes Arsenal made a “huge mistake” not finding a role for Arsene Wenger when he stepped down as manager in 2018.
Wenger left the Gunners after 22 years in the dugout and he has since cut all ties with the club, currently working as FIFA’s chief of global football development after opting against staying in management.
Dein, who left Arsenal in 2007 after serving as the club’s vice-chairman since 1983, has bemoaned that fact and insisted Wenger should’ve been given a role at the Gunners when he departed.
“Without being too critical of anybody, I think the club made a huge mistake,” said Dein, who was speaking at an event for the Twinning Project on Monday night at the London Palladium.
“As the song goes, there’s only one Arsene Wenger. They should have found a place for him within the organisation, make him chairman, make him whatever it is.
“And I think what rankles is the fact that personally, and I will say this openly, that whoever made the decision didn’t think he was good enough for Arsenal, but yet he is good enough to be head of global football development for the world. Frankly, I don’t understand it.”
Watch “An Audience with Arsène Wenger OBE & David Dein MBE” on LIVENow, Passes are available for £5, and all proceeds will be donated to the Twinning Project
