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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