Arsenal manager aiming high after extending tenure

LONDON - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has signed a new two-year contract, the club announced on Wednesday, ending months of speculation about his future.

Wenger has presided over a tough season, which saw his team fail to qualify for the Champions League. Still, he masterminded a morale-boosting FA Cup final win over Chelsea last weekend.

The 67-year-old Frenchman's new deal, which will take his tenure up to 23 years, is believed to have been rubber-stamped during a board meeting on Tuesday.

"I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement. We are looking at what we do well and how we can be stronger everywhere," Wenger told the Gunners' website.

"This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful."

Arsenal said Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis conducted "a full review of our on and off-the-pitch activities" to identify areas for improvement in view of a title challenge.

American majority shareholder Stan Kroenke said: "Our ambition is to win the Premier League and other major trophies in Europe.

"It's what the fans, players, staff, manager and board expect and we won't rest until that is achieved.

"Arsene is the best person to help us make that happen. He has a fantastic track record and has our full backing."

Wenger's new contract brings to an end the most traumatic season of his long career.

Arsenal missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years and was humiliated 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the competition's last 16.

He has come under greater pressure from fans than ever before, with 'Wenger Out!' signs ubiquitous in the second half of the campaign, fans boycotting home games and chartering planes to trail banners calling for him to go.

'Horrendous'

Wenger's switch to a back three enabled Arsenal to end the season in style, winning seven of its last eight league matches before toppling Chelsea in last Sunday's cup final.

But he has been deeply hurt by the criticism he has received, branding the conduct of some supporters a "disgrace" and saying it created a "horrendous atmosphere" around the team.

Gazidis defended the board's decision to stand by Wenger.

"I think in football, the judgments are so black and white that often, if you don't fire your manager, then you're seen as being unambitious. I think that's ludicrous," he said.

"You don't fire good people, you don't fire people who are world class, you don't fire people who are driven to improve."

In an interview on Arsenal's website, Wenger appealed to fans: "Let's be together to support our players, to support the club and all give our absolute best to be at the level that we want to be."

Arsenal's Wembley win against the Blues gave the Gunners a third FA Cup in four seasons and made Wenger the first manager in history to win it seven times.

However, it is 13 years since the last of his three Premier League title triumphs, while his seven straight last-16 exits in the Champions League is damning of Arsenal's shortcomings in Europe.

Wenger's key objectives for the offseason will be to tie star duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to new contracts and strengthen his squad for its Europa League campaign.

On Wednesday he pledged Arsenal would only look to sign "top, top quality" players and said having a "very heavy squad" meant "we might lose some players".

"We're committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season," he added.

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, an Arsenal shareholder who recently had a takeover bid rejected, warned that Wenger won't be successful unless he has the complete backing of the board.

"What is now of paramount importance is that he receives the full support of the board and majority shareholder," Usmanov said.

"He has a great opportunity to deliver the success that the fans deserve. However, without the right support there remains a real risk his legacy will be tarnished."

Agence France - Presse