Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, says he “hesitated” over signing a new contract last season because he doubted whether he was “capable of leading the club.”
Wenger agreed to a two-year deal in May, a month before his contract expired.
On French TV programme Telefoot, he said there were “personal reasons” behind the decision to delay extending his 21-year reign at the Gunners.
But he added: “I’ve been there for so long that you always wonder, can you still take the team to the next level?”
Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League last season – the first time they have finished outside the top four since Wenger joined in 1996 – before beating Chelsea to win the FA Cup.
Wenger’s side began their new league campaign with a 4-3 victory at home to Leicester, before losing 1-0 at Stoke and 4-0 at Liverpool.
“I’ve been at Arsenal many years and last season we struggled a lot,” the 67-year-old Frenchman said.
“This year we won our first game, we weren’t as good in the second match and then we had a catastrophic performance.
“But now we have to recover and, as always in a time of crisis, you have to win your next game.”
Wenger was also asked about Arsenal’s transfer deadline-day bid for 21-year-old Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar.
A fee in the region of £90m was reportedly agreed, but Wenger revealed the player “decided to stay at Monaco”. (BBC Sport)
Arsenal manager says he had doubts over future
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