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Arsene Wenger: Arsenal manager agrees two-year contract

By David OrnsteinBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Arsenalcomments1080

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has agreed a new two-year contract, extending his 21-year reign at the club.

Wenger and club owner Stan Kroenke met on Monday to determine the Frenchman's future, with the decision relayed to directors at a Tuesday board meeting.

Arsenal are planning to make an official announcement on Wednesday.

The Gunners were 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's contract was set to finish at the end of the current campaign.

In a BBC Sport poll, 58% of voters think that Wenger staying is a good thing for Arsenal.

Feast and then famine

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.

Some Gunners fans turned on the 67-year-old Frenchman as a result of their league performances and they lost 10-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16 in March.

They finished the league season with five successive victories, but it was not enough to carry them above Liverpool to take the fourth and final Champions League spot.

Wenger told BBC's Football Focus on Saturday the criticism he has faced this season is "a disgrace" he will "never forget".

Anti-Wenger banners were held aloft by Gunners fans in the closing stages of a 3-1 defeat at West Brom on 18 March, while in the first half two planes towed banners over the ground - one criticising the manager and the other supporting him.

After that loss, Wenger said he had made a decision on his future which he would announce "very soon".

He faced significant criticism around that time, with former Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton telling BBC Radio 5 live on 20 March that Wenger was "an uncle who doesn't want to leave the party" and was running a "dictatorship".

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, meanwhile, described Wenger as "one of the best managers in history".

Arsenal fans marched calling for the resignation of Arsene Wenger before their FA Cup quarter-final win over Lincoln
Arsenal fans marched calling for the resignation of Arsene Wenger before their FA Cup quarter-final win over Lincoln

Analysis

BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker:

Arsenal have got a long way to go at the moment, they're a long way behind. If you ask me now whether Arsenal are going to be in the top four next season, I would say most probably not.

The only other example of a manager that decides when and where he goes is Sir Alex Ferguson, but he was still winning league titles. Arsene Wenger was still winning FA Cups and until this season he had always got in the top four, but now that's changed.

Comments

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1080 comments

  • Comment posted by lewlil, at 13:51 30 May 2017

    Good news, I'm pleased for AW and even more pleased that no matter how hard the British Press tried to push through his demise Arsenal Board haven't buckled to their need to write headlines at the expense of someone career.

    Who are they going to target next?

    21 years in job is a rarity in this ever changing world.

  • Comment posted by D1679628963736, at 13:47 30 May 2017

    Yay well done. Credit to Wenger. A small minority didn't get their way.

  • Comment posted by User0843365918, at 13:54 30 May 2017

    Well done Wenger! A victory for football.

    Some Arsenal fans don't realise how lucky they are!

    Leicester take note.

  • Comment posted by User0970249011, at 13:55 30 May 2017

    The only disgrace here is Arsenal fans.

  • Comment posted by Will, at 13:54 30 May 2017

    Great news against all the prats out there who think that finishing in the top four and winning fa cups is just not enough. Wenger will decide when he's off not a few glory hunting chavs

  • Comment posted by D1710916545523, at 13:53 30 May 2017

    As an arsenal fan I am happy with the news. After many years without any trophies we've had a good few years in the fa cup yet somehow he gets more stick than ever

  • Comment posted by The Doc, at 13:48 30 May 2017

    Brilliant - two more years of moaning Arsenal fans.

  • Comment posted by TheWengerbusiscoming, at 14:10 30 May 2017

    Good. The section of Arsenal fans who are giving him abuse are simply vile. Hopefully they'll go and form AFC Arsenal and then they change their manager every 6 weeks if they like.

  • Comment posted by Edcase, at 14:21 30 May 2017

    I'm an LFC fan, but the flak that Wenger gets is a bit unfair. Their points tally of 75 was the highest ever from a team finishing 5th. Normally 5th will hit about 65 points, but it has been a lot lower. Newcastle with 56 points in 2004 and even Liverpool with 58 in 2005!

    Man City qualified with 66 points last season and Utd *won* the league with 75 points in 1997. It's all about perspective.

  • Comment posted by Olly, at 13:52 30 May 2017

    Kroenke is the problem not Wenger

  • Comment posted by Emile Heskey for England Captain, at 14:10 30 May 2017

    To those moaning about Wenger and saying he hasn't been successful recently...three major trophies in the last 5 years is something most football clubs will kill for.

  • Comment posted by david, at 14:04 30 May 2017

    So Lineker reckons Arsenal are further behind than Wenger thinks.
    Alternatively, Wenger is sure that Arsenal are nothing like as far behind as Lineker thinks.
    Good luck, boss.
    To lead a club for 21, now 23 years with integrity, dignity, respect and unwavering commitment takes some doing. Delighted you're staying.

  • Comment posted by The Rockabilly Red, at 15:27 30 May 2017

    Declaration: I'm a life-long Man Utd fan.

    Arsenal fans should be grateful they've got a manager who believes in entertaining football. Wenger is a credit to the game and brought nothing but respect to your club.

  • Comment posted by VamosAtleti, at 14:00 30 May 2017

    As a fan of a lower league club, I have been more than fed up with this saga. I have also sick to the back teeth of hearing the bleating of 'entitled' fans of this great club.
    Quite why they feel so entitled to never ending success (which they appear to believe is their right) is beyond me. All sports teams have different levels of success and failure in cycles; it goes with the territory.

  • Comment posted by User0227455920, at 13:58 30 May 2017

    Any Arsenal 'fans' that are disappointed with this are not fans at all. Have some respect for one of the greatest Premier League managers of all time.

    He's not perfect but who is? It's unlikely there's anyone better who would be willing to join Arsenal next season.

    Good luck Wenger and well done on the FA Cup win! Despite the lack of support from some of your 'fans'.

    From a Spurs fan.

  • Comment posted by D1710669349391, at 14:15 30 May 2017

    Today honour, loyalty and respect won out against the new short term practice of hiring mercenaries. In an age where historic clubs are sacrificing their identities in for cheap victories I'm proud to call myself a Gooner. Sometimes believing in what your team stands for means more than purchasing silverware. #TheLegendLives

  • Comment posted by MTsouls, at 13:50 30 May 2017

    I agree with Arsene when it came to the treatment he received, it was a disgrace. He is the most successful manager Arsenal have had and is still winning trophies. If the minority want to act like children and wave banners and not support the team, don't renew your season tickets and let those that will get behind the team attend.

  • Comment posted by Nafemeister, at 14:00 30 May 2017

    Gloating Spurs fans make me laugh - he has finished above them 20/21 times! They can only dream of winning something.

  • Comment posted by 1plus1 is 2, at 14:00 30 May 2017

    Relief to be honest and I really mean that, there`s too many blowing off hate for Arsene on here and thats totally out of order.

    Arsene is Arsenal and he made the club what it is today, there`s life in the old dog yet and nothing would give me more pleasure in football than to see him succeed again and I would be more than happy to see him have that chance.

  • Comment posted by HX, at 13:47 30 May 2017

    Fantastic news. Lol.

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