Arsene Wenger's success in English football more or less stopped when Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea, and now his belated exit is laced with a deep irony.
Chelsea are facing uncertain times, following a couple of years in which transfer spend has been reduced and the influence of Abramovich has receded.
In recent months they have faced the further complication of Abramovich's absence: his UK visa has yet to be renewed as tensions heighten between London and Moscow.
Abramovich has recently been granted Israeli citizenship, which will help him to visit the UK, if not work there.
So, with the club outside of the Champions League and the extent to which Abramovich can continue to bankroll the club shrouded in doubt, for the first time in 15 years money may be too tight to mention at Stamford Bridge.
The latest manifestation of this has come today, as the club have announced that plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a 60,000-seater ground have been suspended. A brief club statement cited " the current unfavourable investment climate" for their decision.
Chelsea Football Club announces today that it has put its new stadium project on hold. No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur.
The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision.
The decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment climate.
At a time when Premier League clubs have more wealth than ever before, it hints at some deep problems behind the scenes at Chelsea.
