LONDON, England, April 5- Arsene Wenger retains a strong base of support among Arsenal fans but nearly half think he should leave at the end of the season if he fails to win the FA Cup and finish in the top four, according to survey results released on Friday.
A poll of more than 8,100 supporters revealed the split, which can be felt in the stands at the Emirates Stadium.
Most of those surveyed want Wenger to stay if the two remaining targets are met – but many called for him go if he fails on both fronts.
Arsenal are fourth in the Barclays Premier League and under increasing pressure from Everton, who they face at Goodison Park on Sunday, before going into an FA Cup semi-final against Wigan, at Wembley.
Wenger’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to sign a new deal which has been on the table for months.
More than two thirds (68 per cent) wanted to see their manager stay if he won the FA Cup and finished in the fop four securing entry into the lucrative Champions League yet again.
The bulk of them thought he should sign another contract of two to three years, although a significant number (32 per cent) thought it was time for him to go regardless.
Sixty one per cent thought he should stay if he finished in the top four but did not win the FA Cup and 56 per cent thought he should stay if he won the FA Cup but missed out on the top four.
More than half (54 per cent) are still backing Wenger to stay even if he did not win the FA Cup or finish in the top four, although only less than a third (31 per cent) approved a two or three year deal.
Twenty three per cent said they would prefer to see him offered a one-year rolling contract instead the other 46 per cent thought it would be time to go.
The only other question in the BSM survey concerned the plan to increase ticket prices by three per cent next season, which fans were almost unanimously against.
-Daily Mail
POLL RESULTS
Should Arsenal win the FA Cup, but finish outside of the top 4
Stay as manager, on a 2-3 year contract 40%
Stay as manager, but on a rolling 1 year contract basis 16%
Leave his managerial post 44%
Should Arsenal fail to win the FA Cup, and finish outside of the top 4
Stay as manager, on a 2-3 year contract 31%
Stay as manager, but on a rolling 1 year contract basis 23%
Leave his managerial post 46%