Arsene Wenger agrees two-year deal to stay at Arsenal with the formal announcement expected on Wednesday
French boss has been in crunch talks with club hierarchy
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ARSENE WENGER has verbally agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Arsenal.
The French boss had been in crunch talks with the club hierarchy at the Emirates.
A formal announcement is expected by Arsenal on Wednesday, with Wenger, 67, to enter the 23rd year of his tenure in north London.
American billionaire owner Stan Kroenke made the offer, which will be subject to a formal ratification by the rest of the board.
Kroenke has always been a firm supporter of Wenger and the Frenchman wanted to continue in the job, but there have been issues over the structure at the top of the club - as well as massive fan unrest.
Wenger wanted assurances over his role after chief executive Ivan Gazidis proposed changes.
Kroenke has had to adjust Wenger's role to keep Gazidis onside as well.
But Wenger is happy that those changes - which include a new sporting director that will look after scouting, youth development and analytics - will not impact his main roles of coaching, picking the team and transfers.
Arsenal fans have been split over whether to keep their long-serving boss with protests a feature of matches all season.
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Numerous banners and fan marches have taken place both inside and outside the ground.
The 'Wenger Out' call has become a phenomenon, with placards held up at sporting and political events around the world.
Arsenal have endured the worst season of Wenger's time in charge, with the club failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
The humiliating Champions League exit to Bayern Munich - where Arsenal were beaten 10-2 on aggregate - only made things worse.
It is now 13 years since the club last lifted the Premier League title.
Saturday's FA Cup win over rivals Chelsea has restored some pride, with a third FA Cup in four years enough to convince Kroenke that Wenger was the right man for the job.
Supporters on social media have showed how split the fanbase remains: