Football
ESPN staff 10y

Wenger expected to commit until 2017

Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will sign a new Arsenal contract before the World Cup, with widespread reports indicating he is to commit to another three years at the Emirates.

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Wenger's current agreement expires in the summer but he had stressed in recent months that he would stay on if satisfied with the manner in which the club completed the season.

After claiming a first trophy in nine years with Saturday's 3-2 success over Hull City in the FA Cup final, Wenger said he would put pen to paper before leaving the country on June 10.

"I will sign before the World Cup because I am going to Brazil," he said in The Times. "It will be done by then."

The Guardian, The Sun and the Daily Telegraph all report that the 64-year-old has agreed a deal until 2017, worth in the region of eight million pounds a year.

Wenger, who first arrived in North London in 1996, had faced intense criticism at times during a trophy drought that stretched back to the 2005 FA Cup triumph. While he repeatedly pointed to the club's constant participation in the Champions League during those years, he admits he has also had doubts about his work.

"I question honestly myself," he said. "We live in a world where people, they tell you always what you have not [done]. They never tell you that you have done something as well.

"I believe as well the quality of a club is the consistency and then the special players make you win the trophies. The quality of the consistency is important for the club and on that front we have been better than everybody else -- there are only two clubs in Europe who have 17 years consecutively qualified for the Champions League and that consistency demands special values inside the club."

The Sun claims Wenger will be allowed to spend 100 million pounds this summer, with the Guardian's report suggesting eight million will be invested in Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy.

The Gunners boss said he was awaiting news on out-of-contract duo Bacary Sagna and Lukasz Fabianski but confirmed he intended to invest.

He said: "First, we have to wait for Sagna -- what will he do? -- and Fabianski. After, we have to bring in two or three players to strengthen the squad. That is for sure. Unfortunately, everywhere we go, there are many teams on the market at the moment."

Sagna, who has been linked with both Manchester clubs, said he was unsure where he would be playing next season.

"As of today I do not know if it was my last game," the 31-year-old said in The Times. "As everyone knows, I am out of contract and we have not found an agreement with the club. After that, as a player, I'm happy to lift a trophy."

Fabianski, 29, all but confirmed he would move on, saying: "Probably that was my final game for Arsenal and I am really proud of that final game. I'm really proud that probably my career ends up with a trophy.

"It's difficult, but I think my decision is made purely on playing regularly each week. That's the main case for me. This club has been fantastic with me. I really love this club."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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