Arsene Wenger Stays On at Arsenal

For Arsenal fans who are crapping their pants on the imminent departure of their manager, they can heave a sigh of relief. Wenger has made a strong commitment to Arsenal by putting pen to paper on a three-year contract extension till 2011.

The contract had been due to expire at the end of the season and Wenger's future had been cast in doubt since the controversial departure of former vice-chairman and close friend David Dein in April.

Wenger told the club's official website www.arsenal.com: "My heart is tied to this football club so signing a new deal was always my intention. Arsenal is the club of my life. I have been entrusted with complete freedom to implement and execute my plans on what will make the team successful and that means I have a responsibility to the fans to deliver silverware and also a responsibility to the players to help turn our potential into prizes."

"This club has deep-seated roots and a tremendous heritage and it is my aim to uphold these important values and help create new history for future generations to recount."

Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood added: "It is wonderful news for Arsenal Football Club that Arsene has signed an extension to his contract. We have been at Emirates Stadium for a year now and go from strength to strength off the pitch."

"With Arsene continuing to manage the team, I am sure we can look forward to more exciting football and success on the pitch. Arsene has a special ability to develop talented players and turn them into world-class stars, a quality that is admired here at the club and indeed around the world."

A little bit about the track record of Wenger to appreciate his achievements better. He joined Arsenal in 1996 from J League side Nagoya Grampus Eight and has transformed the Gunners into a top contender ever since.

He won the domestic double in 1998 and 2002, winning the Premier League three times and the FA Cup four times so far. Under his tenure, the Gunners have never finished outside the top four in the Premier League.

A tinge of regret - he has yet to taste victory in Europe, however, he led the club to finish as runners-up in the UEFA Cup in 2000 and the Champions League in 2006.

Can he help Arsenal reclaim the Premier League title from Chelsea and Manchester United this season? Also will he able to win the Champions League, especially without Thierry Henry, his talismanic striker?

It may look unlikely right at the start of the season but the ironic thing is that Arsenal is now in a better position as compared to last season. The youngsters are coming of age and there is no superstar in the team, meaning everybody has to play their part.

When Alex Ferguson dismantled the championship team featuring Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelski, Steve Bruce, and brought in budding teens like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Gary Neville, he has a lot of detractors questioning his sanity but history has shown that he made the right decision.

The same thing could happen for Arsene Wenger in his new-look Arsenal. Without any European silverware, he cannot be considered a great manager and i am sure he is aware of that but he is moving in the right direction. If he persists with his vision, Arsenal may finally clinch the coveted European crown.