Arsene Wenger has been offered a new deal to extend his stay at Arsenal and the Frenchman expects the formalities to be sorted out in the near future (Gunners 6/1 – 2010/11 Premier League Outright).
The 60-year-old has been with the Gunners since 1996 although he has won nothing in the last five seasons since beating Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final (Arsenal 7/1 – 2010/11 FA Cup Outright).
But Wenger has kept Arsenal competitive, both domestically and in Europe, while he has also been forced to live within his means as the club moved from, Highbury to the Emirates for the start of the 2006/07 season.
However, there had been suggestions that Wenger was facing a make-or-break year following the half-decade barren run prior to his announcement that the Gunners want to tie him down to a new deal.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield, Wenger said: “I have to show as well how much I believe in this team by showing my commitment.
“My situation will be sorted out very soon.
“I believe my commitment to the club has nothing do with the speculation of how the season would go, because that would be unfair.
“If I do not do well, and one day the club is not happy with me I can completely understand that I do not stay here any more.
“But I believe we will do well.”
Wenger has spent the summer fighting to keep hold of captain Cesc Fabregas who has been the subject of least one big-money bid from Catalan giants Barcelona.
It is a battle the Frenchman appears to have won although no Gunners fan is likely to sleep too well until the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
However, Fabregas is struggling for fitness ahead of the new season after being given extra time off because Spain got to the World Cup final.
Striker Robin van Persie is also in the same boat after Holland’s run in South Africa while Alex Song and Denilson face late checks on calf and abdominal problems.
Johan Djourou (hamstring), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (broken leg) are all definitely sidelined but summer signings Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny are in the squad and ready to make their Gunners debuts.
Arsenal are 9/5 to get their season off to a winning start at Anfield this weekend.
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Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed he wants to move to Real Madrid just three days before his Nerazzurri side take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League final (Bayern Munich 23/10, draw 9/4, Inter Milan 6/5 within 90 minutes).