Wenger welcomes Kroenke support

27 September 2013 13:31

Manager Arsene Wenger has welcomed the vote of confidence from Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and says he is ready to sign a new deal sooner rather than later.

The Frenchman, who will turn 64 next month, has been in charge of the Gunners for 17 years but has not been able to deliver a trophy since 2005.

Nevertheless, Kroenke insists Wenger - who was linked with a move to Paris St Germain in the summer - remains the man for the job as the north London club embark on what they hope will be a new chapter backed by increased financial resources, which helped secure the record £43million signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.

"I am very honoured to have the support of Stan Kroenke. That he thinks I can help the club is a huge confidence vote. That is something for me that is very positive," said Wenger, who takes his side to Swansea for Saturday afternoon's late kick-off.

Following the disappointment of an opening-day 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa, Wenger has since guided his side safely into the group stages of the Champions League, to the top of the Barclays Premier League table and on Wednesday night saw the next generation come through a penalty shoot-out in the Capital One Cup at West Brom.

Wenger remains relaxed about his own long-term future, but made it clear he would have no issue with signing on again for the Gunners.

"What is important is that you feel you can do your job where you are and I am very grateful to this club because during the 17 years we had ups and downs, they have always shown a big faith in me and they always let me do the job like I thought it had to be done," he added.

"If I am still here today it is because I got that consistent support from inside the club."

Wenger continued: "The good thing with me, if I have one quality, (it is that) you don't need a lot of talks to extend the contract I have.

"I want to focus on the quality of our season. I don't believe that anybody can question my commitment to this club.

Source: PA