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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hints at four more years in management

Arsene Wenger waves to fans during at Turf Moor
Image: Arsene Wenger says his preference is to stay at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has revealed he could stay in management for at least four more years and insisted his preference is to stay at Arsenal.

The Frenchman is out of contract in the summer and said on Friday that he would make a decision on his future in either March or April.

He also added, in the wake of their 5-1 thrashing at Bayern Munich, that he was not looking to retire at the end of the campaign and intends to remain in management next season, even if that was not with the Gunners.

Wenger, who became Arsenal boss in 1996 and is currently the longest-serving manager in England, insists he has plenty left in the tank.

When asked if he could follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired after 26 years as Manchester United manager in 2013, Wenger replied: "Ferguson has some other interests in life and he was older than I am today. He was four years older, he retired at 71 and I'm 67."

Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal walk off
Image: Wenger says he could stay in management beyond the age of 71 - the age when Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Manchester United boss

Wenger also refused to put a time-frame on when he could retire from the game and even suggested he could stay in management beyond the age of 71.

"Maybe more, maybe less, I don't know," he said.

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Watch the best bits of Arsene Wenger's mediaconference...

"Everybody is different on that front and I do not want to take anything away from Ferguson, he was an absolutely unbelievable manager but he had enough, he had enough, and I'm not at that stage."

Wenger insisted his suggestion that he could manage elsewhere if he ended his 21-year association with Arsenal was not a threat to the club's board.

'Wenger played a blinder'
'Wenger played a blinder'

Sky Sports News HQ reporter Gary Cotterill takes a closer look at Arsene Wenger's media conference

"It is not a threat, not at all," he said ahead of Arsenal's FA Cup fifth-round tie away at non-league Sutton United on Monday.

"My preference is always to manage Arsenal and I have shown that. I am adult enough to analyse the situation."

Pushed further on his future, Wenger added: "I do not want to talk anymore about my personal situation.

"What is important is the next game. We had a big disappointment, we lost, and we want to win the next game."

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