Former Arsenal star Ian Wright has suggested Arsene Wenger was forced to announce his decision to leave the club.
The Gunners released a statement on Friday in which Wenger stated his intention to step down at the end of the season, despite having a year remaining on his contract.
The Frenchman has resisted repeated calls for him to resign from disgruntled sections of the club's fanbase in recent years, Wenger ignoring their dissatisfaction to sign a two-year extension in May 2017.
And Wright, who won the Premier League title under Wenger in 1997-98, suspects the 68-year-old's hand has been forced amid concerns about the team's form behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium.