Martin Keown insists there is a hidden message behind Arsene Wenger’s latest statement on his future at Arsenal.

The Arsenal manager landed in more trouble with angry fans on Saturday after his side’s 3-1 defeat against West Bromwich Albion.

However, Wenger suggested after the match that he had made a decision about his future at the club which will soon be revealed.

And according to former Arsenal defender Keown, the Frenchman has opted to delay the confirmation of his departure only because of the impact it would have on the players.

“Are they even going to be in the top seven this season?” the ex-Gunner was quoted as saying by the Express

“They are just tumbling out of the top four, the wheels are coming off.

“You’re looking at it and they had no [Mesut] Ozil today, [Alexis] Sanchez was playing most of the game with an injury.

“I can never remember it being this bad for Arsene Wenger.

“It does feel now, very sadly the end of an era for Arsene Wenger, it’s just finding the right time to announce that.

“I don’t know if the players could cope with him saying he is about to leave.

“That may be the only reason why he is not making any kind of announcement if he feels it will affect the group.

“But the writing is firmly on the wall.”

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