Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 7y

Arsenal fans march to Emirates chanting for Arsene Wenger to leave

LONDON -- Several hundred Arsenal fans marched in protest to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday chanting for Arsene Wenger to step down prior to Tuesday's 5-1 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich.

The group of fans gathered around 6 p.m. local time outside the old Highbury stadium and marched holding banners reading "No new contract" and "Every story has an ending," while chants included: "Arsene Wenger, we want you to go."

It was the most vocal display yet of the growing sentiment among sections of Arsenal supporters that Wenger should step down when his contract expires this summer. It comes after a series of disappointing results over the last month, including 3-1 losses at Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League and the 5-1 hammering at Bayern in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie.

Wenger has repeatedly said he will not make a decision on his future until nearer the end of the campaign, and said on Friday he will base it on a "bigger picture" than the recent disappointments.

Wenger has been in charge at the club since 1996 but has not won the league since 2004, with two FA Cup titles his only triumphs since then.

Supporters have also expressed unhappiness about the club's high ticket prices and what they perceive as a lack of ambition from owner Stan Kroenke and chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

And their disenchantment with Wenger has only grown in recent weeks after the disappointing results and his decision to drop star striker Alexis Sanchez to the bench for Saturday's loss at Liverpool.

One sign held up by a fan read "Stubborn, stale, clueless" while another read "Enough is enough."

The march dispersed peacefully after reaching the Emirates Stadium.

Banners calling for Wenger to step down have often been held up by individual supporters at away games over the last two seasons and, although they are banned inside the Emirates, signs were held up during Tuesday night's defeat.

The game also had to be paused for several minutes just after kickoff as Bayern fans protested high ticket prices by throwing large numbers of toilet rolls onto the pitch.

They later held up banners reading "London 64£, Munich 59+1€, The gr€€d know$ no £imit$."

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