Arsene Wenger has apparently been given the option of an extended three year stay at Arsenal.

That won’t impress many Gunners fans, as towards the end of last season’s campaign, banners were being unfurled by supporters suggesting Wenger should leave.

Arsenal fans have been left underwhelmed by both the manager and his team. In a season that saw Leicester snatch the Premier League title, Arsenal just about made it in to second place. In reality, last term was exactly the right year for Arsenal to make an impact and win the league. As the major guns stuttered and were inconsistent at best, Arsene Wenger’s troops should have taken advantage, but never looked like true title winners.

Perennial FA Cup winners, Arsenal couldn’t even reach the semi-finals and the Champions League is yet another yearly source of frustration for those in red and white.

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Back in April, when talking to Sky Sports, Wenger was asked about his tenure at Arsenal. But the Frenchman, who is contracted to Arsenal until May 2017, was unmoved when asked if some of last seasons results, as well as banners protesting at his continued role, could force him to reconsider his position.

“I do not want to come back on that, I respect always my contract,” he said, when asked about remaining in charge.

Wenger’s recruitment policy seems to have also been a bit wayward of late. The exasperations last summer, when only Petr Cech came through the Emirates door, were palpable with Gunners fans wanting more quality in a side that was always the bridesmaid, but never the bride.

Since the end of last season, Wenger has unnaturally acted quickly to make his first signing and from what most of us have seen, Granit Xhaka looks to be a good buy. The Swiss midfielder has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s most talented midfielders and it could be that Wenger is starting to delve into the reported £200m that is sitting gathering dust in the bank.

If Wenger does stay for another three years, then that could be better news to the ears of Gunners fans than first thought.

It should be remembered that Wenger is the most successful Arsenal manager ever. Qualification into the Champions League is virtually guaranteed every year and occasionally, Arsenal win the FA Cup.

His youth policy is one of the best in the Premier League and any youth player of any note will always get a chance to play. Alex Iwobi is the latest off the conveyor belt and has fitted in seamlessly, pushing aside the likes of Theo Walcott as he develops into a top player for the Gunners.

Wenger’s instincts for a player have not diminished over time either, although many were asking why he didn’t sign the star of the Premier League last year – Dimitri Payet. Wenger’s arrogance and stubbornness will mean that he is never going to admit to being wrong and he won’t be bullied by any club into paying over the odds for a player. But he knows what he wants and who he wants and knows a decent player when he sees one.

In a home game at the end of last season, Arsenal fans had a chance to show Wenger what they really thought. However, it was badly publicised and was a complete non-event. This gave rise to Wenger thinking that the majority of Gunners fans actually still want him at the club and it is entirely likely that he will sign on the dotted line.

Although there are many reasons for Wenger leaving, there are as many or more for him staying in North London.

The club is run Wenger’s way and that appears to be no bad thing. Training, diet, philosophy and style of play are all Wenger’s, and nothing happens at the club without his say so. N

o one on the board would dare sack the Frenchman – he has that much influence and power. His methods filter down to the various youth sides that grow and develop under his ways and his thinking, so by the time they do play for the first team, they are well versed in the ways of Arsene Wenger and slot in easily.

It is difficult when you believe your club should be doing better, but Wenger is the safest pair of hands and has unrivalled experience, especially when you look at Arsenal’s success and continuity under his guidance.

The natives might be restless, but sometimes it’s better the devil you know…

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