Arsene Wenger has endured a bad start to the new season (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal legend Tony Adams believes Arsene Wenger should have stepped down as manager after beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final, and that his time with the club is now destined to ‘end in tears’.

The former Gunners captain says Wenger could still have left his post as a club legend if he’d gone out on a high, but is now concerned that he’s stayed on for too long.

Despite a strong finish to last season, Arsenal suffered their lowest-ever finish under the French tactician, ending in fifth place in the Premier League, missing out on Champions League qualification in the process.

An FA Cup win papered over some cracks at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal have made a poor start to the new campaign with two defeats in their first three matches.

In a damning interview, Adams criticised Wenger’s decision and added that he never taught him anything as a manager, despite his various strengths in other areas.

Wenger looks in danger of souring his Arsenal legacy (Picture: Getty)
Tony Adams says Wenger should’ve left at the end of last season (Picture: Getty)

‘Arsene should have gone in May,’ Adams told the Islington Gazette.

‘He’s such a great guy. He’s said ‘retirement is death’. But you don’t have to retire do you? He’ll have a place at Arsenal forever – he’s the greatest Arsenal manager – and deserves respect.

‘You could say if he wants another two years give him another two years – but my personal opinion is that he should have gone after beating Chelsea.

‘He should have said ‘thanks very much I’ve done unbelievably for this football club’ – and they would have put a statue up and everyone would have said what a great man, ‘now move onto the board and do an ‘Alex’ (Sir Alex Ferguson) and come back when you want.

Adams praised Wenger as Arsenal’s greatest ever manager (Picture: Getty)
Adams captained Arsenal to two doubles under Wenger (Picture: Getty)

‘But it’s not for him – and it’s going to end in tears.’

Adams formed part of Arsenal’s best ever defence when Wenger first took over at the club, and believes the manager has failed to build anything like it since due to his weakness in improving defensive players.

‘My experience when I worked with him for six years was he’s a very approachable, very warm, lovely human being. A really nice guy. Very intelligent, very educated,’ Adams said.

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‘If I had to analyse him as a manager and coach in that period he was physiologically-speaking a fitness coach – the best I’ve ever come across, better than everyone. For preparation and recovery he was better than anyone.

‘As a psychologist – regarding his interaction with his group of players – he was fantastic, second to none.

‘But did he teach me anything? No. Did he teach me how to defend? No.

‘He didn’t teach Nigel (Winterburn), Dicko (Lee Dixon), He didn’t teach Bouldy (Steve Bould) or Dave Seaman.’

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