Wenger staying with Gunners

Frenchman turns his back on Real opportunity

Last updated: 20th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger staying with Gunners

Wenger: Staying with Gunners

I'm staying here.

Arsene Wenger.
Quotes of the week

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Arsene Wenger has turned his back on the chance to coach Real Madrid and has pledged his future to Arsenal.

The Frenchman emerged as Real presidential candidate Florentino Perez's top target to take charge at Santiago Bernabeu, should the former supremo of the Spanish club win the forthcoming elections.

Speculation over Wenger's future then increased when he admitted that working under Perez would be 'an interesting project'.

With the Gunners enduring a fourth successive season without silverware, some supporters had began to express concerns about the direction of the club.

Wenger was clearly unhappy at the criticisms levelled at his door, but has now pledged to remain at Emirates Stadium until at least the end of his current contract in June 2011.

Staying

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis held talks with Wenger on Tuesday to discuss plans for the coming season and the former Monaco boss later confirmed his intention to remain in his current role.

He told the Daily Mail: "There's nothing to worry about, it's not an issue for me.

"I'm staying here.

"If that changes I will let you know, but don't worry about that. It's not an issue."

Comments (28)

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Jack Gutteridge (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsene Wenger is by far the greateset arsenal manager in history and those who think he should go are blind to the amount of work he puts in to the football club and I think that next year we will win a trophy for sure

Posted 19:59 21st May 2009

Jim Pogson (Manchester United fan) says...

It amazes me. As a united fan we are obviously lucky to have Fergie, but his only rival in terms of quality is Wenger. I listen to you all talking about 'he needs to blend old with new' he knows that allready, thats why he got Gallas and Silvestre, probably the most experience he could get with the money (anyone want to suggest any other options ?). You should be so proud to have the class and support you have, from all over the world, you play excellent footy, have some of this country's (and others) really exciting new hopes (Walcott, Ramsay, fabregas etc) and as someone up there said, much rather support you lot that any of the richer teams, Chelski, Real, etc. its a no-brainer. you lot should be happy to have a team with class. As Chelski know, you can't buy that even with all the money in the world

Posted 13:48 21st May 2009

Rama Gutsi (Arsenal fan) says...

Yes it hurts 4 seasons without a trophy but that not the end of the world.Next season God willing trophies will come with Mr Wenger the football magician as our coach.Fans stop complaining Wenger knows what is doing.

Posted 13:30 21st May 2009

Bukky Adetunji says...

Arsene Wenger is a great Manager and has a thing for the future and consistency. Its great news that he is staying and would finish the good work he started. He would leave Arsenal on a high when the ovation is loudest. Fans are just so passionate about the club and wonna see trophies come in. you guys heard of the Arsenal Fan in Kenya that committed suicide when we lost to ManU in the CL semis? Thats how passionate Fans are. The weight of success is not only on the coach but on the players too. I hope Prof buys 2 -3 good guys to fortify our defence. This new season, we would silence all our critics.

Posted 09:50 21st May 2009

Donald Coutinho (Arsenal fan) says...

In Arsene we trust ... Our Glory Days will be back ...

Posted 09:22 21st May 2009

Robert Lascaris (Arsenal fan) says...

I have been supporting the gunners for over 40 yrs and Arsene Wenger is the best manager the club has ever had, truly world renowned. What he has achieved this season, with the injuries we've had, is remarkable. Anyone who thinks he should leave is an IDIOT. I agree we need 2 or 3 players down the centre of the team especially a striker, in the mould of a Wrighty or Henry, not just skillful but cocky and often unplayable. This will mean some of the youngsters will have to wait alittle longer, but i think he has too many at the moment. Anyway, the cream will always rise to the top.

Posted 04:13 21st May 2009

Ruben Rubio (Real Madrid fan) says...

I wish Wenger will be next season in Madrid, but I'm sure this is really dificult. I think Real doesn't have any chance and it's possible that Mourinho will be the new coach. Florentino is going to spend loads os money this summer in 4 or 5 great players and he need a coach who is able to keep these players together without problems. If Wenger doesn't go to Madrid, I'm sure I will enjoy of Arsenal games.

Posted 22:11 20th May 2009

Billy White (Arsenal fan) says...

I would like to congratulate Mr.Wenger 4 deciding to stay at the Emirates.Although he has had a disappointing 4 seasons we are not to only look at the flaws but we should also look at the glory days under his management.At the moment he is the professor of football and as he is also a maker of football.He is building a team of youngsters at the moment, but he should also consider getting experience in the mid and attacking areas to help nurture the young talent and also give the much needed experience flare Arsenal needs.

Posted 21:58 20th May 2009

Tom Gale (Arsenal fan) says...

Great news! It is great that he is staying and a shame that he has been villified by a small portion of our fans. I don't think people realise just how limited the budget is that he has to work with. There is no other manager I would want at the emirates, I would rather watch the beautiful football that wenger has brought us and wait for a trophy... it will come. Liverpool fans are not jumping on Rafa's back - he has spent a fortune and I don't see any silverware heading to anfield this season. If it is true that we have £13m to spend, that is enough to buy the players we need - a good centre back and a defensive midfielder.

Posted 09:40 20th May 2009

Billy Lap (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsene is without doubt one of the finest managers the modern game has ever seen, it would be a disaster at this point if we were to lose him, there are only a select few players that are fit to wear the colours of Arsenal & the list of potential replacements for Arsene is far more scarce. It's the same with utd there is no equal in management terms to the likes of Fergie & Wenger, loyalty, drive, determination & a real bond with the players. Wenger has rebuilt a winning team time & time again, this just a blip. we need a centre back,a good left back,right back for cover & a real centre forward who is ready & commited, Wenger knows this & will no doubt fix the situation. £35m for adebayor now looks a good deal if we get offered anywhere near that we should sell him & buy a quality foward.Song has come on & I believe will be able to set his stamp as the leagues best iin his position next season, nasri has been solid & will improve, sagna is the best in the league, Cesc is the best playmaker in the league when fit, toure back to his best, Walcott just needs to stay fit,Clichy fit & focused,Almunia is a top keeper now, if Arsharvin continues in the same vain will win player of the season next year. It's going to be a great season wiith Wenger at the helm.No more doom & gloom!!!

Posted 09:35 20th May 2009

Jonathan Russon (Arsenal fan) says...

Khaled Moussa - Come on mate, if it wasnt for Arsene we wouldnt be where we are today! I am really glad to hear that he is staying. I never take any notice of the papers as they all start to try and seperate the team! keep the boys together as i believe youth will win us trophies. Why not bring Senderos back he looks like decent cover? maybe 1 experienced player will do. But injury free we al know we can win something, if not everything! look forward to next season!

Posted 09:14 20th May 2009

Didas Kumwesiga (Liverpool fan) says...

Wenger is a good coach no doubt but but he needs to appreciate that during his glorious days he mixed experienced players-Vieira, Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, with young ones-Adebayor, verpersie etc. At the moment, who is so experienced that he is backing on for trophies apart from the unreliable GAllas and Silvester in defence. It is high time the team is blended well-Young and old. The Arsenal Board should have realised and questioned him on that. I think Arsenal Foot Ball club has surpassed greed for money that we need to see trophies coming in. Fantasy football minus trophies discourages fans. But Wenger, thanks for the job up till this far. REgads

Posted 09:13 20th May 2009

Robert Cheung (Arsenal fan) says...

Fact is if Arsene goes then so does arsenals title hopes. Fab, Van P, Theo, Samir will all leave the club. We do need a few players i believe. I think we should get rid of ade to whoever (Milan,Inter,Chelsea) for around 25-30 mil (so the papers say) and if newcastle were to go down, get Martins and Bassong. I think these two players would be perfect at Arsenal. Martins will give us that cutting edge up top and bassong would just slide right in at centre back. there is cover everywhere IF those two come. Thoughts anyone?

Posted 09:09 20th May 2009

George Christou (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsenal fans pay good money to watch good football and win trophies. we play one style only and it has been counter attacked so it does not work anymore against the big boys. Secondly, the fans demand success and why shouldnt they? when you go out for a meal you dont just want the knife and fork you expect a nice meal! we are not supporters of shares or Wenger fanatics, we want to have more than just pass and pass and pass with no end product. This is what Don Howe was renowned for. Did you know that Arsenal fans have been taking bets in the stadium and during the match as to whether the team will take a shoot! We are not happy, nobody tell us anything but lies, this team is not good enought to grace the emirates, would you have donkeys running the grand national? would Alex Ferguson hang aroung with supposedly no money which i dont believe and these players?no, never but Wenger has distanced himself from the fans and is quite rude to us. The fans forced Wenger to buy Arsahvin Wenger actually tried to walk away from the deal near the end which he is renowned for doing, he pretends to buy! I want him out because he had run his cause. I feel alienated and suppressed by his philosphies, they are like the m25, buy young and cheap, throw them in the deep end, they mature become world class,wage structure cannot accomodate their salary demands and they leave, and start again! just go Wenger.

Posted 09:06 20th May 2009

Rufus Dennis (Arsenal fan) says...

Locky W I can't agreee with you any more!!! Befor Wenger came along we had nothing to shout about execpt a cup winners cup and a couple of domestic cup. Wenger came along andturned us into one of the best teams in the country. Now because of that sucess some sections of the fans are acting like Chelsea supporters and calling for his head!! Four years without a trophy is painful but lets not forget he's accomplished something no other manage in the modern game has, an entire league season unbeaten. The true gooners are behind you Mr Wenger. Lets look forward instead of pointing the finger at one of the best managers in the world!

Posted 08:57 20th May 2009

Graham Dives (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsene has proved that he is a great manager, but his master plan is flawed. You just cannot grow a complete team from young players. Every sucessful team needs experience with a mixture of exceptional skills. All we need to do is buy 3 or 4 exceptional players and the youngsters will then grow faster into a sucessfull team. Go buy the best Arsene , and hears to a great 09/10 Gooner graham

Posted 08:52 20th May 2009

Abs Hussain (Manchester United fan) says...

Re: Khaled Mousa, I'm sorry but WHAT??!!! He is a quality manager and the premiership would genuinely be a duller league without the presence of the wit, the quips and above all else, the beautiful brand of football Wenger brings. I'm a United fan, and although I'm ecstatic that we're through into the final of the Champs League by beating Arsenal, I'm not blind to see if they had Gallas, Clichy, Rosicky, ARSHAVIN and Van persie the result may well have been a lot different, instead of the walk it was. As for the following 4-1 Chelsea result - did you even watch the game??? Chelsea were clinical with the finishing, but it has to said Arsenal were by far the better team and 4-1 was especially harsh (NB Liverpool fans, the 4-1 at old trafford was harsh too..). Arsene Wenger has been an amazing manager, and I think he is very close to challenging again long-term, he just needs to be lil lucky with injuries and get one/two players in. THATS IT. you don't get rid of a manager who has taken the side to one UCL final and semi-final after losing several key members in his squad (Flamini, Henry, gilberto, edu, senderos, Hleb - a lot of whom went for money, can't get into starting XI). In fact I would say this, the day Sir Alex puts his tactics books in the drawer for the last time, I would want no man more than Arsene Wenger to take over the theatre of dreams.

Posted 08:49 20th May 2009

Abhishek Patil (Manchester United fan) says...

Clearly this is good news to english football. Arsene wenger along with Sir Alex are one of the best managers around. Though there hasn't been much success to arsenal in the past 4-5 years interms of trophies, Arsene is developing a wonderful young team. It would have been sad if he had left the team in between at this moment of time. Though working with real madrid would have suited Arsene as he would be a winner there, but as always you could not guarantee stability with real. I hope Arsene stays on and achieves much greater things ( remember the invincibles of 2003-04 ), those days are not too far. Cheers to all you arsenal fans.

Posted 08:42 20th May 2009

Joe John (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsenal do not need a new manager!! Arsene Wenger is the right man for arsenal. If we sacked him because of losing 3-1 and 4-1 to man u and chelsea ( which are great teams) then we will be like other clubs like newcastle and spurs. Arsene has a plan and i believe in that plan and so should any other TRUE Arsenal fan!!! AND WE WILL START TO DOMINATE ENGLISH FOOTBALL IN ABOUT 2-3 YEARS TRUST ME!!!!

Posted 08:41 20th May 2009

John Macleod (Arsenal fan) says...

If Arsene Wenger stays he will have to change his views on how football should be played in the premiership, if not he should leave the club now! He inherited a strong defence mainly consisting of English players, Adams, Seaman, Winterburn etc. and has done nothing over the years to strengthen that area of the team. Clichy and Sagna are not good defenders, young yes, but attack is more in their minds than defence. Wenger does not instill discipline in his players but wants them to express themselves on the pitch by playing his style of football. His demeanor during matches does not give the fans any confidence that when things are not happening as they should he can make the necessary changes to put it right. He is to often seen moaning about minor incidents on the pitch or the referee when he should be giving his players a verbal kick up the back side. I think he is tactically naive. His tippy-tappy style of midfield and forward play may be pretty to watch but is frustrating and so often does not deliver the end product - goals! Less passes, more shots. More shots more goals assuming the players know where the opposing teams goal area is where they should be when attacking which is not often the case with Arsenal. The fans want trophies, any trophies. My advice - always play your strongest side in all competitions, be more direct when attacking and for goodness sake get some defenders preferably British players who understand what it is all about.

Posted 08:39 20th May 2009
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