Edelman expects long Wenger stay

Edelman: Confident of Wenger stay

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Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman does not expect Arsene Wenger to leave the club for at least another eight years.

Wenger, who was appointed Arsenal boss in 1996, this week insisted he had no plans to retire while he still had a hunger for success.

There had been speculation about the Frenchman's future when vice chairman David Dein left Arsenal last August.

But The Gunners are again challenging for the Premier League title this season and Edelman does not expect to have to deal with Wenger's departure any time soon.

He said: "I don't think it's something we're contemplating at this juncture. He has just the other day announced he has a desire to go on forever.

"He won't go on forever, that's an exaggeration on his part, but I don't think it will be my problem.

"I've got another seven or eight years to go (at the club) and it won't be my worry."

Snap comments

Meanwhile, Edelman has hit out at critics of the Premier League's plan to have an international round of matches.

Edelman accepts that the proposal needs to be reviewed thoroughly but feels there are benefits to taking the Premier League abroad.

He thinks much of the negative reaction has been based on an emotional response rather than logical reasoning.

"I do think a lot of people are making snap comments on it and not thinking it through strategically," he explained.

"They're not making analytical comments, they're making emotional comments. It's a very serious issue and needs to be dealt with in a very serious way.

"The fact that we have millions of (overseas) fans, millions more offshore than in the UK, that is the germ of the intent - to give those fans more than a televised product.

"That's the impetus behind the idea the Premier League came forward with. We need to sit back, look very carefully and do the analysis."