Arsenal have announced Arsene Wenger has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal keeping him at the club until 2019.
Wenger’s previous deal was due to expire this summer and there was serious doubt whether the Frenchman would continue beyond the end of the season after another disappointing campaign.
The Gunners finished outside the top four for the first time in Wenger’s 21-years as manager of Arsenal, but they did at least manage to cap the season with another FA Cup trophy after beating Chelsea at Wembley last weekend.
However, this was the first season where a large section of Arsenal fans have seriously turned on Wenger and there will need to be sweeping changes over the summer if the north London outfit are to avoid two more years of drifting under Wenger’s watch.
“I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “We are looking at what we do well and how we can be stronger everywhere. This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful.
“We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season. I am grateful to have the support of the board and Stan in doing everything we can to win more trophies. It’s what we all want and I know it’s what our fans around the world demand.”
Wenger’s first challenge will be to sort the futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Both players have entered the last 12 months of their existing deals and have been heavily linked with summer moves away.
Arsenal’s success in the FA Cup means Wenger has now won the competition more times than any other manager since its inception (7). Not only that, but the duration of Wenger’s new contract means he (currently on 790) will break the record for the most Premier League games taken charge of, which is currently held by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (810).
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If we keep the 3-4-2-1 formation, I don't see us capitulating in big games. The more we played under the system, the better we played. Makes sense but it doesn't always happen. We were more defensively stable and it allowed Oezil in particular to do his thing. CBs in the modern game are better ball players but worse pure defenders than the previous generation so a back 3 could be a long-term ploy and not a novelty. Avoiding injuries is also key and Wenger is guilty of rushing players back. Hopefully with fewer games (assuming Wenger will ignore the EL) there'll be fewer injuries but he needs to ensure the backups are good enough for if/when there are. Our prospective first XI looks good but the backups are several rungs below. We have been told there is a transfer balance kitty of £150m. We need to spend that on proven players who can go into the first team straight away and/or complete with those in the first XI. If that happens then maybe we can finally lift the title?
I hoped he would decide to leave or the board would make the decision to take the contract off the table but now he has signed, he needs to win the title next year. The last 2 seasons have seen the winner of the league be a team who weren't involved in European competition so with that in mind, I hope Wenger plays a 2nd XI in the EL. That in itself would provide valuable experience to young players as well as aid in sharpening those who haven't played too much, or at all, in the league. I also think now the deal has been signed, there should be a better atmosphere at the Emirates. I don't boo but understand those who do. There are often too many quiet spells and that makes for an easy atmosphere for opposition teams. We should make it hostile. There are too many socials at the Emirates, those who care little if we win or lose as long as the football played is aesthetically pleasing. These people aren't 'fans' and are hiking the ticket prices by way of supply & demand..... tbc