• Premier League

Wenger: I'll stay at Arsenal if we're successful

ESPN staff
May 3, 2013
Arsene Wenger was keen to point out Arsenal lost on away goals to Bayern Munich, who just beat Barcelona 7-0 © Getty Images
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given his broadest hint yet that he would consider extending his contract at the club beyond next season.

Wenger has avoided questions about his long-term future as Arsenal boss throughout the season and insisted he is focusing on on-field matters rather than considering his current deal, which is due to run out in the summer of 2014.

But it now seems the 63-year-old is open to extending his lengthy stay as Gunners chief. Amid fresh suggestions this week that Wenger turned down an approach from Paris Saint-Germain, the Frenchman moved to dampen suggestions he will look to leave Arsenal a year from now.

When asked what will happen when his contract expires next summer, he revealed for the first time that he is open to remaining in charge, so long as he considers he is bringing success to Arsenal.

"I want to stay if I do well," he said. "If I consider or the club considers that I do well, that's all. I want this club to do well, that's my basic feeling.

"We have gone through a period that was very sensitive. The club is coming out of it much stronger financially and I believe the club is in a very strong position for the future. My own person is less important, what is important is the future of this club.

"I don't know if I will have an input into the future. I try to do my job and the only thing I can say is I do it with a lot of commitment and a lot of loyalty. After that, I try to do as well as I can for this club.

"This club today is in a very, very strong position. It has gone through a very sensitive period in a very intelligent way. Everything is here to have a great future. You have a good fan base, now a strong financial situation, good young players, a squad with a bright future with the quality of the young players we have. It's just to manage it well now."

Wenger again denied that he had been weighing up an option to take over from Carlo Ancelotti at PSG, stressing his passion for the game and commitment to Arsenal remain unflinching after his most turbulent season as Gunners boss.

"Every football game excites me and football in general excites me and the love for this club as well," he said. "I have already answered that question [about PSG]. I honour my contracts.

"I believe that during this season we had to rebuild the team. We lost some massive players and we have moved forward in the second half of the season considerably. Just to let you know, we went out to Bayern on away goals and they have just thrashed Barcelona 7-0, so I have to consider we have moved forward."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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