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Ivan Gazidis

Gazidis - New Wenger deal 'will happen'

By Richard Clarke

Ivan Gazidis firmly believes Arsène Wenger is the "most capable person" to drive Arsenal forward - that is why he wants to extend the manager's 13-year tenure in North London.

Speaking to the Arsenal Supporters Trust on Monday night, the Chief Executive Officer said that a new deal "will happen" sooner or later and then went on to explain his reasoning.

"It is not a sentimental thing," said Mr Gazidis. "It is the belief that he is the right person to push us forward.

"If I thought he did not have ambition and was not the most capable person we would have a different conversation. But in terms of his contract extension it is something we very much want to get done, it will happen and will be announced at the right time."

On Sunday, Arsenal secured third place in the Premier League with a 4-0 win over Fulham. It was an improvement on last season but was not the title win that was in the offing a month early. Many have suggested that Wenger's failure to bring in new players left his side under-manned at the business end of the campaign. Mr Gazidis said the manager's actions were guided by the needs of the Club not just the team.

"The dynamic of a manager who is pushing only to spend more, more, more against a Board who are trying to keep him under control is so well established that people actually don't know what to do when you have a manager who is involved in the process, works in unison with the Board, behaves responsibly and has a view about what is good for five or 10 years - even when he might have gone by then.

"It is a very, very simple cause and effect as to what happens when clubs spend beyond their means. And to think that just cannot happen to a club like Arsenal is just wrong. It can if we are irresponsible.

"But we are fortunate to have a manager who is very closely aligned to the board and acts responsibly."

[Tuesday, May 11, 2010]

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