Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, has confirmed that the club wants to extend Arsene Wenger’s contract beyond 2014, when his current deal will expire.
The Frenchman has endured a trophyless spell of eight years at the club and there have been speculation that the 63-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, might seek a new challenge outside England.
However, the Arsenal chief says he expects Wenger to stay beyond the 18years he has spent in North London.
“We think we have got a fantastic manager,” Gazidis said. “We hope he wants to do what he is doing for the long term. I believe he does. I think he is still ambitious, still driven and sees the potential of the club as he looks forward and I think he is very excited by that.
“We have a great relationship and he has a great relationship with the board. So, quietly and at the right time I think we will make an announcement on that when things are all put in place.
“We have got a lot of confidence in Arsene that he is the right person to take the club forward and I think he will want to do that. This is going to happen very quietly behind closed doors, privately and then there will be an announcement.”
Wenger won the Premier League in his first full season in charge and has qualified the Gunners for the Champions League every year, but has not won any silverware since the FA Cup in 2005.
“This is a club that has had remarkable consistency in terms of its manager, football philosophy and support from the board and our principal owner for the manager,” Gazidis continued.
“It is pretty much unmatched, through some difficult periods as well. So if it is consistency players are looking for, Arsenal would be a very attractive place to come.”
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