Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has told BBC Sport that Arsenal fans must give manager Arsene Wenger the respect he deserves or risk losing him.
The manager has come under increasing criticism from supporters after six seasons without a trophy and the departure of Cesc Fabregas.
When asked if Wenger could leave, Dein said: "That's always an option open to him because it could come to a stage when he will say, 'Well, I have had enough.'"
"At least that's how I feel and I feel the fans should feel that. They should at least give him the respect that he deserves for what he's done."
Dein, the driving force behind Wenger's appointment in 1996, told BBC Sport: "People talk about 'Has his time finished at the club?'
DAVID DEIN
- Born: 7 September 1943
- Early career: Sugar trading
- 1983: Becomes Arsenal vice-chairman after buying 16.6% share of club for £292,000
- Early 90s: Takes Arsenal stake to 42%, plays key role in forming Premier League
- 1996: Brings in Arsene Wenger as Gunners boss
- 2000: Named FA vice-chairman
- 2006: Appointed chairman of G14
- 2007: Leaves Arsenal after "irreconcilable differences" with board. Signings included Wright, Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry, Pires, Campbell, Fabregas, Van Persie
- 2007: Sells shares for £75m to Red & White Holdings (Alisher Usmanov)
- 2008: Resigns as chairman of Red & White
- 2010: Becomes international president of England's 2018 World Cup bid
"That's a very dangerous thing to say because it's easy to get rid of people and then what? People talk about buying players. Well, you've got to get players who are better than the ones you've got at the moment."
Dein, who left Arsenal in 2007, is still good friends with Wenger, but did say that he sympathises with Arsenal's fans.
"I can understand their worry because the expectation level today is so high and Arsene has brought such success to the club," said Dein.
"In 15 years that he's been there every year we've been in the Champions League. So you can understand, perhaps, fans feeling a little bit frustrated that they haven't seen a trophy for a few years.
"Under Arsene Wenger's stewardship, they've had good times and very good times and there's no reason to expect why we shouldn't see them again."
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