Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, Thinks Arsene Wenger Should Leave Arsenal FC

Arsene Wenger faces a barrage of criticism for Arsenal’s poor performances in 2012, but now people in high places want him out. Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, has called on the longtime Arsenal manager to give up the job he’s held for 15 years, according to AFP.

Kagame, a noted Arsenal fan, did so on Twitter in an exchance with with Kenyan journalist Philip Etale. He thinks Arsenal’s trophy drought, which is nearing seven years, has allowed mediocrity to set in at the club.

Arsenal has lost all three of its Premier League games this year. It only squeaked past Championship (second division) club Leeds United in the FA Cup thanks to Thierry Henry’s heroics.

Sunday’s 2-1 loss against Manchester United was the final straw for Rwanda’s head of state. Wenger replaced attacking starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (after he set up the tying goal) with the much maligned Andrey Arshavin. Within minutes Arshavin’s defensive lapse led to the winning goal.

Wenger and Kagame have supported each other in past.

“At a bash for his 50th birthday in 2007,” the report says, “Kagame was handed an Arsenal banner signed by the entire squad and a letter in which Wenger told him of his pride at learning that the Rwandan head of state was a keen supporter.”

Who knew a manager’s decision could cause something bordering on a diplomatic incident?

[View the story “Paul Kagame Calls on Arsene Wenger to Step Down” on Storify]

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