Wenger: 'No doubt' I will remain at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger insists he has “no doubt” he’ll still be at Arsenal next season and remains fully committed to the job despite the recent outpouring of criticism from fans.
Wenger has been under heavy pressure after Arsenal fell 11 points behind Leicester in the Premier League title race and exited the Champions League and FA Cup this month. But he received public backing from minority owner Alisher Usmanov on Friday, and told beIN Sports on Monday that he has no plans to leave the London club after his 20th season in charge.
Asked if he had any doubt he’ll be back for next season, the Frenchman said: “I have no doubt, no, because I am committed. When I do something I do it 100 percent. I am always committed to give my best as long as I am at the club.”
Wenger said the recent criticism from both media pundits and fans “is not very welcome,” but he reiterated once again that it doesn’t affect him.
“I don’t worry too much about all the rest, what people say. All the rest is judgement, opinions, and that is linked with beliefs from the last results, our last disappointment, our last happiness,” Wenger said. “In my job you focus on what is important, which is to perform. I believe in life it’s very important that you focus on what you are appointed for. I am appointed to perform and to do the best for my club. It’s all I focus on. My future is my future, I don’t master that more than you.”
Arsenal look likely to end the season without silverware despite having led the league in January and with every other traditional rival struggling. But Usmanov, who earns 30 percent of the club, said Arsenal must retain Wenger, who has one year left on his current contract. Usmanov called the 66-year-old Frenchman Arsenal’s “main asset” and referred to the club as a successful “sports business project” in an interview with Russian TV station Rossiya24.
One of the main gripes among fans is that Wenger and the club board run Arsenal too much like a business and aren’t spending enough money in the transfer market — having failed to buy a single outfield player last summer.
But Wenger was adamant again that he is doing his utmost to win titles.
“I have my conscience. What is most important is that I give my best every day I work for the club I love,” Wenger said. “If I can share that love with the supporters it’s even better. But at the end of the day I want to make sure I give my best.”
