Arsenal has "admitted that they want, and expect," ARSÈNE WENGER "to sign a new contract that would potentially extend his tenure at the club into a third decade," according to Jeremy Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH. Arsenal CEO IVAN GAZIDIS "is refusing to publicly disclose the details of any discussions with Wenger," whose contract expires next year, but said he does anticipate an announcement "when things are all put in place.” Arsenal and Wenger "have generally agreed three-year contracts in the recent past" and, if that was repeated, a new deal would take him to '17 and beyond 20 years at the club. Gazidis said, "We think we have got a fantastic manager. We hope that he wants to do what he is doing for the long term. I believe he does." Such an endorsement "will divide opinion among Arsenal supporters." There "has been mounting frustration over recent seasons at the failure to win a trophy" since '05, but equally, there "is appreciation for the achievement of finishing in the top four in each of his 17 years at the club" (TELEGRAPH, 6/6). In New York, Jamie Uribarri wrote "While nobody in their right mind believes a new manager would be able to lead Arsenal to an undefeated record, the consensus among Wenger's critics is that a change may be needed after almost two decades of the same old thing." But as far as Gazidis is concerned, Wenger is still "the perfect man for the job." Gazidis: "I think he is still ambitious, still driven and sees the potential of the club as he looks forward and I think he is very excited by that" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/6).
