Arsenal vs. Lincoln City: Arsene Wenger's Key Pre-Match Presser Comments

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he will take into account "fan sentiment" when deciding on his future at the club.

The Frenchman spoke ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final with Lincoln City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, per ESPN FC's Mattias Karen:

According to the Mirror's Liam Prenderville, he added "it will influence" his decision, but "it won’t be the most important factor."

Wenger opened up on on the protests against him held by some sections of the Emirates faithful ahead of Tuesday's 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, which saw them crash out of the last 16 for the seventh year in a row, with a humiliating aggregate score of 10-2.

"I work hard for 20 years to make fans happy. When you lose, I understand they are not," he said. "I don’t want to judge that and will give my commitment to my work."

The manager was also asked if deciding to sign a new contract would affect his legacy:

"

I don’t work for my image. I work for this club. After how I will be judged, is not my problem.

I have shown since I have been here that I love this club and I am loyal to this club.

I have made the best decision for this club and I will continue to do that. 

"

The Bayern result will not play a large part in his decision to stay or leave the club in the summer, though, and he also gave context to Arsenal's poor run in Europe over the last decade, per Karen and the Mirror's John Cross:

Wenger gave his assessment of the match once again: "It is easy to assess the game. We watched it and analysed it. As long as it was 11 vs. 11, we produced a top-level performance. After that, it became impossible when [Laurent] Koscielny was sent off."

The Gunners were indeed the better side until the Frenchman was controversially given his marching orders and Munich were awarded a penalty, though the extent of Arsenal's capitulation was exceptionally poor even with 10 men.

Matt Law , Jason Burt and Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph reported Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose contract expires next year, "looks certain to quit the club" after becoming "disillusioned," but Wenger hopes he will stay put:

Looking ahead to the match with Lincoln, the 67-year-old gave the latest fitness news for his side, per James Olley of the Evening Standard:

Wenger will be hoping for an emphatic response from his players following their disastrous outing on Tuesday, and at home to the non-league side, he should get one.

Equally, that expectation puts pressure on Arsenal, and the match is a potential banana skin—a failure to convince will pile more misery on the Gunners.

If Arsenal win comfortably, it's unlikely to win over any supporters who want Wenger to leave, but it will put them in the semi-final of the FA Cup—winning the trophy and rescuing a top-four spot in the Premier League are the only things capable of salvaging their season now.