Tony Adams, the former Arsenal captain, believes that Arsène Wenger’s “addiction” to football will be detrimental to the club’s long-term success.
Wenger signed a new two-year contract at Arsenal this week which will extend his 21-year stay at the north London club.
The Frenchman lifted the FA Cup last weekend but a fractious season in which Arsenal missed out on Champions League qualification by finishing fifth in the Premier League has led to protests from fans.
Adams won four league titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal and, speaking at a Times+ event with chief football writer Henry Winter, he said Wenger missed his chance to go out on a high.
“I fear that Arsène hasn’t got a life outside of football – he’s completely absorbed by it and addicted by it,” Adams said.
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“Where’s your legacy? Pass it on to someone. To be absolutely addicted to anything in this world is unhealthy. I hope he’s happy and this is not the case, but I don’t know who he talks to, who he socialises with.
“I love him and I wish him the best and that he’s okay with himself, but I feel that he’s a lonely man. But then he might not be. Who knows?”
Adams also criticised Wenger’s qualities as a coach, adding that he learnt much more under managers such as George Graham, who was in charge of Arsenal between 1986 and 1995, and Terry Venables, the former England manager.
“He’s a great coach, a fantastic physiologist he knows how to prepare the human body better than anyone I know - his preparation and recovery is the best. But he didn’t teach me anything,” Adams said.
“People like Graham, Venables, these were the coaches I connected with as a kid. How to defend, how to tackle – Arsène didn’t do that for me.”
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• Read Henry Winter’s interview with Tony Adams in tomorrow’s Times