Arsenal want Arsène Wenger to sign a new contract at the start of next season despite a turbulent campaign that is likely to conclude with the club finishing below north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since 1995.
It is understood that Stan Kroenke, the majority shareholder, has prepared a new deal — believed to be a two-year extension on his present contract — that the club will urge Wenger to sign promptly if they make a strong start to the next campaign. Kroenke wants an answer by October because he wants time to identify a replacement if the Frenchman chooses to retire next summer at the end of his existing deal.
Wenger’s position has been the subject of increased debate among Arsenal fans this season with a growing number calling for him to be dismissed, but Kroenke’s faith has never wavered, even though the club failed to end their 12-year wait for a Premier League title.
Arsenal were unable to sustain a title challenge despite the problems encountered by Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United and lost out to Leicester City, who were pushed hardest by Spurs.
There has never been any question at the club of Wenger being sacked this summer despite the increasing agitation of supporters.
Wenger has traditionally signed three-year contracts, with the shorter deal reflecting his age. The 66-year-old did not sign his present contract until May 30, 2014, when his existing deal had a month left to run and Arsenal are eager to avoid a repeat.
It is the club’s hope that Arsenal will make a strong start to the Premier League next season, thus convincing Wenger to stay and enabling him to sign a new deal with the backing of the supporters. Wenger has been left badly shaken by the dissent from some fans this season, leading him to launch an unprecedented, emotional defence of his 20-year reign before a home match against Norwich City last month.
But he is believed to have been hugely encouraged by the backing that he received at the Emirates Stadium the next day. The planned protests were underwhelming with many turning on those wielding “Wenger Out!” banners.
Arsenal expect a busy summer in the transfer market, with a £30 million deal to sign Granit Xhaka, the Switzerland midfielder, from Borussia Mönchengladbach, close to completion, and believe that strengthening the squad may convince Wenger to stay. He will not be allowed to dictate the terms of his extension however, particularly regarding its timing, as there is a belief in some quarters that in the past Wenger has deliberately left it late to strengthen his negotiating position. If he vacillates at the start of next season then Arsenal may seriously consider other options.
Wenger retains the overwhelming support of Kroenke and the board, who are hugely appreciative of his record of qualifying for the Champions League for 19 successive years, particularly after Chelsea’s failure to qualify for next season and the strong probability that United will miss out again.
Kroenke accepts that the Premier League has become more competitive and sees that trend as continuing, which has strengthened his conviction that it would be dangerous to jettison a manager of Wenger’s experience, as long as he retains the hunger for the challenge.
Sources at the club have told The Times that Kroenke treats Wenger with something close to reverence and the owner’s faith in him remains as strong as ever. Arsenal can pinch second place ahead of Tottenham if they beat Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and Mauricio Pochettino’s side lose away to relegated Newcastle United.
