Wenger committed to Gunners

Wenger: Committed to Arsenal

You speak about Real Madrid - they waste a lot of money and they have gone out in the last 16 of the Champions League for five consecutive years.

Arsene Wenger.
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Arsene Wenger insists he remains committed to Arsenal after speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

Wenger was reported to have emerged as the leading target for Real presidential candidate Florentino Perez, who tried to secure the Frenchman's services during his previous spell as Santiago Bernabeu supremo.

The former Monaco coach then admitted working under Perez would be an 'interesting project', but has now moved to quash reports that he could leave Emirates Stadium before his contract expires in 2011.

"I have shown my commitment always to this club, in good and in bad times and in the worst times, but I don't think that people can question my commitment," Wenger told Arsenal TV.

Asked whether that meant he would still be at the Emirates Stadium next season, he added: "I do not have to repeat every week exactly the same thing."

Waste money

Wenger said he still felt the club were on the up and even made a point of mocking Real's recent record in Europe.

"I believe we had recent disappointment but overall since eight months (ago) I'm very proud of the way the team has improved," he said.

"You speak about Real Madrid - they waste a lot of money and they have gone out in the last 16 of the Champions League for five consecutive years."

Arsenal's Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been linked with a move to AC Milan and Wenger admitted the situation was complicated.

Asked if he was confident Adebayor would stay, Wenger said: "Yes, but that depends as well. It's very difficult to go into any individual assessment with that.

"The only things I can say is that Adebayor is under contract and he's with Arsenal, and that's it."

Proud

Reports have suggested that the striker has become disillusioned after a fourth trophy-free campaign for the Gunners, but Wenger was keen to defend his team's development over the last few seasons.

"We are very sorry that we haven't won a trophy, but many clubs would be proud of the record we have in the last four years," he said.

"With such a young team, if you consider the value of the team, the quality of the team and the investment we have made in the last four years, we do not have to be ashamed of the quality of the football we have shown.

"That is the most frustrating thing - the club is going in the right direction and we have to be strong enough to continue to do that."