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Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has told Sport360 that "the time has come" for Arsene Wenger to step down as manager. Silva, who spent six years at Arsenal under Wenger and was part of the 2003-04 "Invincibles" squad, said he doesn't think the 67-year-old can keep up with younger coaches who are bringing new methods and tactics to the game. "I feel that the time has come," Gilberto said. "The more the past is coming to a close, the more his time is coming -- not because he can't do the job any longer, but, perhaps because the other clubs have changed their way of working, the way of doings things. "He hasn't changed much, he hasn't changed his way of working -- not because he doesn't want to, but it is not so easy to compete with clubs who spend a lot of money every season." Wenger's future is in serious doubt with his contract due to expire this summer and he has yet to decide whether to stay in charge of the club. Arsenal have struggled badly in recent weeks, having fallen out of the Premier League title race and needing a miracle against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday to overturn a 5-1 deficit. And with younger managers like Chelsea's Antonio Conte, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp having made the domestic competition even tougher, Silva questioned whether Wenger can still get the better of his main rivals despite his experience. "He has been in the Premier League longer than those coaches. Wenger has spent a lot more years than them in the Premier League. They are younger and motivated. They have a lot of energy to look around and source ways to win against Wenger," Silva said. "He has his own way of working, in which he believes. Irrespective of whether you are either a young or an old coach, you have to believe in something, and that's what he does." Arsenal haven't won the Premier League since that 2004 triumph, but Silva insisted that Wenger deserves to leave the club with another major title. "He is a strong man, because in the last few years he has been criticised a lot. At the end of the day, he is upset with all the comments and it's not so easy to cope with that criticism, year by year," he said. "He has kept competing with the other big clubs, despite not getting a major trophy. I don't know if he will leave the club at the end of this season or next season, but it looks like it. Honestly, I'd love Wenger to leave the club with another trophy. That way he can end his time at Arsenal properly. Perhaps he can then opt for another position within the club."
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