adminLONDON. — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not yet decided on his future, with his contract due to expire at the end of next season, the Frenchman said yesterday.
Wenger said reports he will be offered a new two-year Arsenal contract are “an invention”. A story in yesterday’s Times newspaper claimed the board wants Wenger to commit to an extension at the start of next season despite unprecedented criticism of the manager from a section of the club’s support.
Wenger will celebrate his 20th anniversary at the club in the autumn and has just over 12 months to run on his current three-year deal. Asked about the Times story at his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Aston Villa game he said: “That’s completely wrong, and I don’t know where this information comes from.
“You can treat that as just an invention – one more. It’s absolutely false, and I would like the press to check before they give this information out. They could have checked with myself or the club and we would have denied it.
“I think about the next game. I have full commitment as long as I am under contract. For the moment that’s all.”
Wenger also admitted it was a missed opportunity for his side to have not won the title this season – but insisted they are determined to finish in second.
“It was a strange season and we finish disappointed,” he said.
“We had a chance to win the title and we are frustrated. It is a missed opportunity.
“Leicester had consistent results and everybody else had ups and downs.
“We want to finish as high as possible and in front of Spurs.
“Ideally, we want to get in front of them.”Wenger also admitted he got some major decisions wrong in the January transfer window.
Arsenal signed Mohamed Elneny from Basel for £5m in the winter and the Egyptian midfielder has impressed since his arrival. But many the Gunners fans were left underwhelmed after another quiet window in which the north Londoners were linked with several top names.
Wenger’s squad has since been hit by a succession of injuries and the French manager has hinted he was wrong for not being more activate in January.When asked if more business would have aided his squad, Wenger replied: “I agree.
“I look at myself and what I could have done. Which decisions did I not get right?
“Welbeck was out for a long time, Cazorla was out for five months, Coquelin out for four months.
“Elneny and Iwobi have done well but you don’t find players available in January – who could have strengthened.”
Wenger has conceded Danny Welbeck’s injury will force him to sign a striker this summer.
The England forward will miss the next nine months after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury during last Sunday’s match against Manchester City. Wenger revealed the former Manchester United forward, and the squad as a whole, are ‘devastated’ by Welbeck’s latest setback and admitted he would have no choice but to enter the market given the severity of the 25-year-old’s injury.
“We have to think about that,” said Wenger.“When a player is out for nine months, you consider it as a season.
“That makes us short on the striker front”.Meanwhile, Arsenal are prepared to make Mesut Ozil the club’s first £200 000-per-week player.
Talks over a new contract for the Germany international are under way and both parties expect a positive resolution.
Wenger believes the 27-year-old will be vital to the club’s future and Sportsmail understands Ozil’s new deal will be worth — inclusive of add-ons and bonuses — a staggering £200 000 a week.
Ozil, who is top of the Premier League assists’ chart with 18, currently earns £140 000 per week and has two years left to run on his existing contract.
Meanwhile, Wenger has spoken of his frustration after Welbeck was ruled out for nine months with knee-cartilage damage.
The Arsenal striker had surgery on Wednesday after suffering the injury in last Sunday’s clash at Manchester City.
“We’re all devastated, and Danny even more so.“It was from an anonymous tackle. The difference between the tackle and the severity of the injury is baffling.“We don’t understand that, but we have to accept the verdict and we have to live with it.
“Danny has to deal with it unfortunately. We just have to give him the maximum support we can and show him that we trust he can come back.”
And Arsenal are prepared to make an offer for Real Madrid ‘s James Rodriguez in the summer transfer window, according to reports in Spain.
Rodriguez moved to the Bernabeu for £63million back in 2014 after an incredible World Cup with Colombia but has struggled for game-time this season at Madrid.
AS say the 24-year-old could be tempted to move on at the end of the season and the Gunners are ready to make a bid to land the £120 000-a-week midfielder.
It’s understood Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are also considering moves for Rodriguez this summer. Wenger is looking to bring attacking reinforcements to the Emirates but the French boss looks set to come up against stiff competition in attempting to sign the Madrid superstar. — Sky Sports
Online Reporter