Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has signed a three-year extension to his contract, the Premier League club announced today.
The Frenchman's current deal was due to expire at the end of the season.
The announcement brings to an end the speculation linking Wenger (57) with a move away from the club at which he has made such a marked impact over the past decade, securing three Premier League titles and four FA Cup triumphs as well as European Cup runners-up in 2006.
However, despite the sale of striker Thierry Henry to Barcelona and last season's exit of vice chairman and close ally David Dein, he has agreed to commit to the club until 2011.
|
"My heart is tied to this club so signing a new deal was always my intention," Wenger said on Arsenal's website. "This is the club of my life."
It is understood the new contract will earn Wenger £4 million per annum.
Despite all of the uncertainty and predictions of another unimpressive campaign ahead, Arsenal have opened the new season in some style. The Gunners comfortably beat Sparta Prague to qualify for the lucrative group stages of the Champions League and are currently second in the Barclays Premier League table, unbeaten in four matches.
Wenger believes the squad has grown in stature following the difficulties of the last few months.
"Since the beginning of the season something has been happening in this team," he said. "They fight for each other, they have a great togetherness and love for the game."
The Frenchman had also been keen to stress the continued speculation around what may happen in terms of a boardroom takeover would not distract him from the job of ensuring Arsenal challenge for the top honours again.
Wenger has long championed the alternative way of earning success, through developing a side rather than simply going out and buying the best talent around.
The likes of Nicolas Anelka and more recently Cesc Fabregas have come from the youth ranks of other clubs and been turned into world-beaters, while Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos are now first-team regulars following their climb through the Arsenal talent system.
Promising 16-year-old striker Gilles Sunu opted to join the Gunners academy this summer rather than head to Manchester United or Chelsea.