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LONDON. — Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith says Arsene Wenger has to go — because his players have got BORED with him.

“I think his time’s reached its natural ending,” said Smith, who won two titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup with the Gunners.

“Some of the players have spent a long time listening to the same voice and I think it has become stale.

“Arsenal’s become his life – he gets up at six, he’s at the training ground by 8am, he goes home at 6pm watches football and then comes back the next day and does it all over again.“He’s almost become institutionalised in the Arsenal life, and what happens on the inside of the club.

“But that’s not a basis on which to make a decision (on a new contract).

“If he came out on the pitch, said ‘I’ve had a fantastic time but I’m going to walk away in the summer’ he would go out as the legend that he is.“And it would put a stop to all the poison and in-fighting among the fans. But if there’s an offer of a contract there, he’s probably thinking, ‘why shouldn’t I sign it?’”

Wenger has been at the club 21 years. He thanked Gunners fans for their backing after Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday. — The Daily Star.