Arsene Wenger will take into consideration the views of angry Arsenal supporters when he decides whether to remain at the club beyond the end of this season.
Wenger endured calls for his resignation before and after Tuesday’s humiliating 5-1 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The Gunners’ heaviest home loss since 1998 ensured their seventh successive last 16 exit from Europe’s elite club competition, sparking furious protests from supporters.
It is not the first time Wenger has been subjected to vitriolic abuse in recent years as the Frenchman’s failure to build a title-winning team since 2004 continues to frustrate fans.
Wenger, who has been in charge at Arsenal for 21 years, is yet to confirm he will accept a reported two-year contract extension and speculation has grown that he will quit when his present deal expires at the end of the season.
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With Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge in tatters, the 67-year-old plans to contemplate his future a while longer and the fans’ opinions will play a small role in that decision.
Asked whether he would consider the crowd’s displeasure when deciding his future, Wenger said: “Yes - you consider. It is not the most important factor to consider of course.
“I don’t work for my image, I work for this club. How I look is not really my problem.
“I have shown since I have been here, I have shown I love this club and I’m loyal to this club.
“I think I have made the right decisions and respect the values of this club.
“I have worked for 20 years to make our fans happy and when we lose games I understand they are not - at certain times you have to accept different opinions.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick has confirmed a ‘mutual’ decision will be made on Wenger’s future.
The Frenchman remains under-pressure after another Champions League exit at the last-16 stage.
Arsenal were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, sealing a 10-2 aggregate defeat.
Ahead of the clash, Arsenal fans staged a protest against Wenger with fans calling on their manager to walk away.
In a statement on Wenger’s future, Keswick said: “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.”
