COMMENT: The wagons are circling. A line has been drawn. A red line. An Arsenal line. For Arsene Wenger, this week it was his 'back me or sack me' moment.
He won't work with a football director, declared the Arsenal manager. No matter the demands of the CEO or those doubters on the board. Under Wenger's watch, it just isn't going to happen.
"I'm the manager of Arsenal Football Club and as long as I'm manager of Arsenal Football Club, I will decide what happens on the technical front," insisted Wenger pre- Southampton. "That's it."
He's simply not having it. Ivan Gazidis, the club's chief executive, has put the feelers out. Michael Zorc, of Borussia Dortmund, has been tapped by a third party. Hoffenheim have issued a very public 'hands off' regarding Alexander Rosen. Former Gooner Marc Overmars has had to deny he's set to return from Ajax. Big names. Some of the most successful in their field. Clearly fielding approaches from Gazidis - via intermediaries. But Wenger's not interested. The line was drawn this week.
“Some coaches are only interested in managing the team and they are happy with it. I am not like that and I cannot change myself now," he insisted, before doing his best Harry Redknapp impersonation...
"When it does not work here, I am blamed. I am blamed for decisions I have not made. It is tough enough to be blamed for decisions you have made..."
Gazidis has been warned. But it went further 24 hours later. Dick Law, Arsenal's 'transfer fixer', was suddenly in the press. All those years of staying in the background, yet he chose this week to speak publicly...?
If there is a divide between the CEO and manager, Law made it clear where the power structure fell behind.
"He has strong backing from the board, strong support from the fans," Law insisted to a conference organised by the Brazilian FA. He didn't name-check Stan Kroenke nor Sir Chips Keswick, but he didn't have to. The line was again drawn, Wenger, for the biggest influences inside the boardroom, remains in charge.
And Law went on, basically making it clear Arsenal already has a football director: him. He's portrayed as a part-time dealmaker, dropping in when negotiations are needed. But Law has his own office at London Colney and as he detailed this week, his role has effectively been what Gazidis is attempting to create.
“The area that I manage is called football operations. My job is to help the CEO and manager, in conjunction with the contract team, with squad planning, contract negotiations, negotiations with agents, player transfers, either in or out of the club, and coordination with the Arsenal academy."
Wenger is fiercely loyal to Law. Maybe it's a stretch to think they cooked up this show of PR. But it's some coincidence...
We know what Ian Wright thinks of Law, branding him "incompetent". But it has to be said, without his presence, Alexis Sanchez would be a Liverpool player. It wasn't the pull of London over Liverpool that was the biggest influence, but Law's relationship with Fernando Felicevich which swung the deal in Arsenal's favour.
They don't come as a package. But there's no chance of Wenger allowing Law to be shunted aside without a fight.
Where this leaves Gazidis is anyone's guess. Though Tribalfootball.com can rubbish the idea that the CEO recently offered his resignation. Not getting his way over a director of football is a setback, but there is belief Wenger will acquiesce to demands of coaching changes amongst his staff.
For the fans, they're seeing this power struggle played out in real time - and in public. There's no need to rely on insiders or well placed sources. We know where everyone stands.
And of course, helping Wenger's corner are results. With nine points still to play for, victory at Southampton now has Arsenal again within striking distance of a top four finish. Plus there's the FA Cup final to look forward to. For those in the anti-Wenger brigade, it's happening again: a top four finish and a Cup triumph - why would the club push the manager out after that?
As it stands today, Wenger will sign his two-year deal. Law will stick around. And there's every possibility Arsenal will be defending the FA Cup next season and playing in the Champions League.
But what else do you expect? It's Arsenal, bloody Arsenal.
