Our ambition is to win the Premier League and Arsène is the best person to help us - Arsenal

Dear Arsenal fans, it is official Wenger is going no where! Arsenal Football Club and Arsène Wenger have agreed on a two-year extension to his contract as manager. 

Announcing the news, the club's majority owner Stan Kroenke said:

“Our ambition is to win the Premier League and other major trophies in Europe. It’s what the fans, players, staff, manager and board expect and we won’t rest until that is achieved. Arsène is the best person to help us make that happen. He has a fantastic track record and has our full backing.” 

Arsène and chief executive Ivan Gazidis have conducted a full review of the team's on and off the pitch activities to identify areas for improvement to build a sustained title challenge. 

Wenger who lifted the FA Cup for a record-breaking seventh time on Saturday, said: “I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement. We are looking at what we do well and how we can be stronger everywhere. This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful. We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season. I am grateful to have the support of the board and Stan in doing everything we can to win more trophies. It’s what we all want and I know it’s what our fans around the world demand.” 

Ivan said: “There is no complacency anywhere at this club. Our goal is to compete for and win trophies here and in Europe. Everything we do is designed to make that happen and we will be working hard on and off the pitch this summer to improve and make a strong challenge next season. The club has grown beyond recognition in every aspect in recent years and we have the platform to be successful and meet the ambitions we and our fans share.” 

Arsenal 2-0 Man U. (Arsene Wenger wins Mourinho for first time in the league as Gunners move to the cusp of top four)

It had to take a Granit Xhaka effort and a former Man U player, Danny Welbeck's shock header for coaching veteran, Arsene Wenger to register his first career win over rival, Jose Mourinho in the premier league on Sunday evening.

Jose Mourinho, started with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, players that have been injured for almost two months to start in the center of the defence while Wayne Rooney was brought back into the fold alongside Juan Mata and young debutant Axel Tuanzebe. Wenger started with Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez upfront while the likes of Alex Iwobi, Giroud and Theo Walcott had to settle for a spot on the bench.

Swiss international, Granit Xhaka fired from 30 yards out in the second half and a nasty deflection by Ander Herrera saw the ball overtake De Gea- whose future as each second passes by, seems to lie more in Madrid than in Manchester.

And shockingly within two minutes, Mancunian, Danny Welbeck headed home from a Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cross to give them all three points despite a late fight back from Jose Mourinho's side.

Wenger with this win, also broke another record, it was the first time Man U lost in the league after the 4-0 drubbing by Chelsea in October 2016, and Mourinho, hopeful of winning the Europa league , maybe... just maybe, might rue this missed opportunity to close up on the champions league spots. Could Wenger resign if Arsenal don't make the top four? Only time can tell!

Arsenal humiliated again in 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace continued their recent revival to boost their Premier League survival hopes and leave Arsenal struggling to maintain their run of top-four finishes under Arsene Wenger.

Palace led through Andros Townsend's close-range finish, doubling their lead when Yohan Cabaye's shot looped in.

Luka Milivojevic clinched victory with a firm, low penalty as Palace moved six points clear of the relegation zone.

Sixth-placed Arsenal did not manage a shot on target in a poor second half.

Some travelling Gunners fans again called for manager Wenger, who has led Arsenal to top-four finishes in each of his previous 20 seasons at the helm, to leave the club.

The Frenchman's side are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with eight games remaining.

While Wenger has never led Arsenal to a finish outside the top four, opposite number Sam Allardyce has a proud record of not being relegated from the top flight.

On this evidence, Allardyce looks much likelier to maintain his achievement than his long-time adversary.

The former England manager, who has previously kept up Bolton, Blackburn, Newcastle and Sunderland, took a while to improve Palace's fortunes after replacing Alan Pardew in December, but the Eagles are starting to reap the rewards of his methods when it matters.

Palace had too much pace, power and passion for a lifeless Gunners side.

Although Arsenal dominated possession in the first half, Palace had the better chances and deservedly led when Townsend drilled in Wilfried Zaha's cross from the right.

Palace leaked goals under Pardew, but have discovered defensive resilience under Allardyce - leading to four clean sheets in their past six league games.

That run has coincided with the arrival of centre-back Mamadou Sakho, the loan signing from Liverpool who again led their backline with a determined and disciplined performance.

It laid the platform for Palace to go on and secure victory after the break.

Cabaye clipped Zaha's pass into the top corner before Gunners keeper Emiliano Martinez clumsily brought down Townsend, allowing Luka Milivojevic to confidently tuck in his first Palace goal.

Arsenal fans get serious! Hire vans and banners to protest against Arsene Wenger today [Photos]

Arsenal fans, spurred by the club's lack of meaningful silverware since 2005, the club's poor performance in the EPL and Champions league the last couple of seasons, on Sunday hired vans and displayed banners urging Arsene Wenger, the club's manager since 1996 to leave the club this summer.

There are reports that the owners of Arsenal have tabled a new two year deal for Wenger and like him because he keeps the club financially stable and brings in a lot of money from player sales leading to fans to protest against the Frenchman at the Emirated before and after the match with Manchester city.

 Before the international break, the fans hired a jet to fly a 'Wenger out' banner over the stadium while a match was going on.

Arsenal release statement regarding Arsene Wenger`s future, Wenger reacts

Pressure upon Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has escalated in the last one week after the club's damaging 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.

Several fan sites and fan groups have called on Arsene Wenger to leave the club once his contract expires this season as he has been at the club for 20 years and there hasn't been any tangible success in the last decade except 2 FA cups and constant champions league (top four) qualification.

But Arsenal's chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, has released a statement regarding Wenger's future, saying the club won't be making any hasty decisions regarding Wenger's job till the season's end.

Keswick said: 
“We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate.We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart. Arsène has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and  communicated at the right time in the right way.”

Wenger, reacting to fans displeasure at his stay in the club said in a press conference on Friday:
 “I have worked very hard for 20 years to make our fans happy and when you lose the games, I understand they are not happy,” he said.  
“I do not want to judge that, I am not able to. I live in my daily work with my complete commitment. After that, I have said many times that you have to accept different opinions.
“And of course the fans’ reaction will impact my decision. You consider everything. It will not be the most important factor but of course, you consider it.”

Wenger "sorry" for failings amid Arsenal protests

Arsenal fans hold up banners calling for "Wenger Out", referring to Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger, during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 30, 2016.  PHOTO|AFP                              

Arsenal’s long-serving manager Arsene Wenger acknowledged the grievances of fans who protested against him during the north London club’s 1-0 Premier League win over Norwich City on Saturday.

In a pre-planned protest, a smattering of fans held up A4 posters bearing the words “TIME FOR CHANGE” in the 12th and 78th minutes of the game at the Emirates Stadium, in a nod to Arsenal’s 12-year league title drought.

But in response thousands of supporters chanted “There’s only one Arsene Wenger!”, with some holding aloft placards in support of the under-fire Frenchman.

“We respect the opinion of everybody and we give absolutely the best,” Wenger told Sky Sports after the game, in which substitute Danny Welbeck scored a 59th-minute winner.

“I think I have shown my commitment and care for this club, and for the fans. I’m really sorry if I cannot make them all happy, of course. We’ll continue to work hard to achieve it.”

There were also reports of pro-Wenger and anti-Wenger factions being separated by stadium stewards.

With Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all toiling and Manchester City inconsistent, this season was seen as a prime opportunity for Arsenal to end their wait for the Premier League title.

But instead they have been left behind by champions-elect Leicester City and now find themselves in a familiar battle to secure a top-four finish and a Champions League place.

Speaking before Saturday’s game, Wenger said: “I can understand the frustration of our fans. But despite that, they want to support our team. The best chance they can give our team is to be behind them.

“Some groups of people try to manipulate our fans and I believe apart from an agenda, a personal agenda, a big ego, there’s not a lot behind it.”

Wenger, 66, became Arsenal manager in 1996 and led the club to three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in his first nine years at the helm.

But they have only back-to-back FA Cup wins in 2014 and 2015 to show for their efforts since then and have gone out of the Champions League in the last 16 for the past six seasons running.

Wenger believes he retains the support of the majority for Arsenal supporters following a day of protest at the Emirates Stadium.

A pre-arranged demonstration saw a number of fans hold up signs saying “time for change” during the 12th minute of Arsenal’s narrow, 1-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Norwich City on Saturday.

The timing of the protest was reference to the fact that it is 12 years since Arsenal last won the Premier League title -- too long a gap in the eyes of many of the north London club’s supporters, for all the Gunners have consistently finished in the top four in the intervening period.

But the cries criticising the Arsenal manager were drowned out by expressions of support, with other fans chanting “there’s only one Arsene Wenger”.

“It was a strange atmosphere but we have to live with that and overall the fans, some were protesting yes, but the big majority didn’t and the big majority was behind the team and they showed they appreciate what I have done until now,” said Wenger, Arsenal’s manager since September 1996.

“I heard them (the chants of support) but I was focused on the game, my job is to win football games so once the game starts I focus on that. You can do both. I acknowledged the crowd.”

‘Disappointed love’

The 66-year-old Frenchman continued: “I am a professional that has given 20 years to this club and have given my best for this club and have to accept the judgement of people.

“The only thing I don’t doubt is my sincere commitment to this club. I am sorry that I cannot keep 100 percent happy but maybe that is because we have been remarkably consistent.

“This season is a bit special as well,” he added of a campaign where Leicester, once 5,000/1 rank outsiders, are on the verge of being crowned champions.

“We were in a position for a long time where our fans believed we could win the league. We didn’t and that is why it is more disappointed love than aggression and we have to accept that.”

Danny Welbeck’s 59th-minute goal ensured a difficult afternoon ended on a positive note for Wenger and his players, although Alexis Sanchez’s reaction when substituted suggested the Chile striker was unhappy at being withdrawn.

Sanchez went straight down the tunnel after being replaced late on and Wenger said: “My job is to make decision and to make people 100 percent happy there as well is very difficult.”

Victory moved Arsenal eight points clear of fifth position and strengthened their bid to secure a Champions League place.

“It was a much-wanted win, and needed and difficult,” said Wenger. “We played against a team very well-organised and didn’t find a good pace in our game.

“But we were serious and organised and in the end we got the win.”

Defeat left Norwich second bottom and in a three-way fight with Sunderland and Newcastle United to avoid going down with already-relegated Aston Villa.

“The difference is just one game,” said Norwich manager Alex Neil. “If Sunderland lose or draw and we win, we will go above them. But we know we need to pick up points between now and the end of the season.

“The last thing you can do down in the dogfight is feel sorry for yourselves. (AFP)