BBC Sport
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is targeting next season’s Premier League title after signing a new two-year deal at the club.
The agreement does not include a break clause and, should it be completed, will extend his reign to 23 years.
Neither Arsenal nor Wenger, 67, see this as definitely being his final contract.
“I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement,” said Wenger.
Arsenal are expected to spend at least £100m on new players in the upcoming transfer window – which opens on 1 July – having also spent around that figure last summer.
“This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful,” Wenger told the club website.
“We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season.”
The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League this season, the first time they have finished outside the top four since the Frenchman joined in 1996.
They finished 18 points behind champions Chelsea, but beat the Blues 2-1 to win the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday.
Wenger met club owner Stan Kroenke on Monday to determine his future, with the decision relayed to directors at a Tuesday board meeting.
Following Wednesday’s official announcement, chief executive Ivan Gazidis said:
“There is no complacency anywhere at this club.
“Our goal is to compete for and win trophies here and in Europe. Everything we do is designed to make that happen and we will be working hard on and off the pitch this summer to improve and make a strong challenge next season.”
American majority owner Kroenke said the Gunners’ ambition was to win the Premier League and “other major trophies in Europe” under Frenchman Wenger.
“It’s what the fans, players, staff, manager and board expect and we won’t rest until that is achieved – Arsene is the best person to help us make that happen,” he added.
Although Arsenal may have £100m to spend, the issue is that they already have a high wage bill and their revenues are not as large as Europe’s very biggest clubs. And that’s before you factor in dropping down from the Champions League to the Europa League.
They need to be careful when it comes to Financial Fair Play, meaning they will inevitably have to sell some players to free up funds for wages rather than transfer fees.
It will be a busy few months at the Emirates.
Wenger on Decision to stay: “I identify myself so much with the club. When you can be where you love to be, that’s easy. It’s difficult because you want to respond to the demands of all the people who love this club.”
The fans: “Let’s be together to support our players, to support the club and all give our absolute best to be at the level that we want to be. We can move up to the next level, I’m convinced of that, by having faith in the way we want to play football and by supporting the players we have already.”
Kroenke: “Our ambitions are unlimited. We live in a very competitive world where you need the support of the owner. He’s highly ambitious and supportive as well so, on that front, we are all united with exactly the same targets.”
New signings: “We have a very heavy squad at the moment so maybe we might lose some players. We will work very hard to find the additions of top, top quality. I believe that our squad is very strong and we will only look for top-class people who can strengthen our team now.”
Wenger led the Gunners to three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in his first nine seasons in charge.
In 2003-04, he became the first manager since 1888-89 to lead a team through an entire top-flight season unbeaten.
But after winning the 2005 FA Cup, they had to wait another nine years – or 3,283 days – for their next silverware. It came as they beat Hull City to win the 2014 FA Cup, before winning the trophy again the following year.
Arsenal are have not won the Premier League in 13 years and in 11 of those seasons have finished 10 or more points adrift of the champions.
Culled From www.bbc.co.uk
