Arsenal FC is delighted to announce that manager Arsène Wenger has today agreed a three year contract extension that will keep him at the Club until May 31, 2008 thus ensuring that he leads the team into its new home at Emirates Stadium which is due to open August 2006.
Since arriving at the Club in September 1996, Arsène Wenger has made a significant contribution to establishing Arsenal as a leading force in both domestic and European football. In seven full seasons, he has guided the club to six major trophies; three FA Premier League titles and three FA Cups and has never finished outside the top two positions of the Premier League, thus achieving automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
During his reign, Arsène has also been named ‘Manager of the Year' three times including 2004 when the Gunners were crowned Premier League champions without losing a single match during the 38 match campaign.
Arsène Wenger said: "My intention has always been clear. I love this Club and am very happy here - signing a new contract just rubber-stamps my desire to take this Club forward and fulfil my ambitions. I still have so much to achieve and my target is to drive this Club on, not only by sustaining our recent success but building upon it. These are exciting times for Arsenal and I'm proud to be the manager.”
Chairman, Peter Hill-Wood said: “We are absolutely delighted that Arsène has signed an extension to his contract. Since his arrival in 1996, he has revolutionised the Club both on and off the pitch. As well as the six major honours he's won during his time here, Arsène has been a leading influence behind all the major initiatives at the Club including the construction of our new training centre and also our new stadium.
“The Club has continued to reap the benefits of Arsène's natural eye for unearthing footballing talent and we currently have a fantastic crop of young players coming through the ranks together with a number of world class players who are playing a wonderful brand of football."