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Published 18:13 22 Apr 2018 BST
Updated 18:19 22 Apr 2018 BST
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There's something so noble about Arsene Wenger, a man who deserved to bow out on his own sword. Something so gallant, so honest, and maybe in the end that honesty was his own downfall.
It was sad enough when those revelations came out during the week that he had been forced out but even sadder was Geoff Shreeves' post-match interview with the 68-year-old after Arsenal's defeat of West Ham on Sunday.
The Strasbourg native deserves respect and so much of it. Geoff Shreeves didn't show him much of that.
Just like Wenger's face fell with every goal Arsenal conceded, his down-turned eyes and bitten lip in response to an unnecessarily difficult question from Shreeves was a tough, tough watch.
Here is how that interview went.
Shreeves: The games are counting down now, can you clarify for us, because whenever we've asked you before about whether or not you would resign, you always say to us 'I will respect my contract.'?
Wenger: That is what I do, I respect my contract, I was sitting on the bench today and I respected my contract.
And then Shreeves went ahead and asked a question that we all knew the answer to, and one that we knew Wenger was never going to answer honestly.
Shreeves: But you have a year, next year, Have you made this decision because the board inferred to you that they were making a change so you could take the lead?
Wenger's response was awkward. What else would it be, really?
Wenger: I have nothing to say to that. I think it was in my statement what I wanted to say.
Then he went digging for more, with the most meaningless question you're likely to hear.
Shreeves: Are you sad?
Wenger: No, I'm happy because we won the game...
Before Shreeves butted in.
Shreeves: You know what I'm referring to...
Wenger: Let's continue to separate my feelings from the results of the team.
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