Arsenal optimistic on Wenger deal

Adam Wolf

Credit: BBC Sport



Wenger has been at Arsenal since September 1996

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood is optimistic manager Arsene Wenger will agree a new contract with the club after the two parties opened talks.

Speculation has been rife that the Frenchman, 57, would quit his post at the end of the season, after more than 11 years in north London with the club.

Hill-Wood said: "Hopefully in the near future we'll have something positive to say. I'm confident he'll stay.

"We had a fairly lengthy conversation recently and that went very well."

Hill-Wood has also dismissed talk of a summer of discontent at Arsenal.

Wenger has sold talismanic compatriot Thierry Henry and there have been reports midfield lynchpin Cesc Fabregas could follow him out of the door.

----

I so hope he stays, Arsenal need him.

Dmac

Yes you do, without Wenger, Arsenal would simply fall apart, they need to do everything possible to make him stay.

God

Super Moderator

Fabregas seems convinced he will stay so that has to be good. However Wenger is 57. He has always said he wont go as long as some managers do Alex Ferguson for example. I can see him retiring in the next five years. The only thing he is missing is the champions league. I dont see us winning it this year (but then again we were tipped fourth out of four English sides the year we got to the final) maybe next season if Wenger stays and the youngsters continue to develop.

Dmac

As I said, Wenger is basically the heart of Arsenal, without him the club would simply fall apart... maybe in Forest/Leeds fashion.

Adam Wolf

But people were saying Arsenal would fall apart when Patrick Vieira left and then we had Francesc Fagregas and Gilberto Silva waiting in the winds, and now Theirry has departed, but Arsenal still have capable strikers in the returning Robin Van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Sorry for going off-topic, I just feel when one high profile Arsenal employee departs, it says Arsenal are in imminent disaster, but the aforementioned were footballers, Wenger is extremely different and have major influence over the club.

Peter Hill Wood, give him what he wants.

Dmac

A player is different to a manager, I never said that they would fall apart without Henry, I actually think that they will be fine, it is just my opinion that if Wenger left then Arsenal would crumble.

Adam Wolf

Dmac, I never said you mentioned about Henry's departure, just everyone in general, who seem to be mentioning it, or were up to and when Henry left.

Dmac

No I know I just added to it by saying I didn't and that my point revolved around Wenger not him.