Arsene Wenger: Banks demanded I sign a five-year deal with Arsenal for Emirates Stadium construction loans
Arsene Wenger has claimed banks "demanded" he stay at Arsenal when they loaned the club the funds to build the Emirates Stadium.
The under-fire manager said that he turned down approaches from a number of other clubs during the period as Arsenal moved out of Highbury and into their new 60,000-capacity home.
Arsenal received loans from RBS, Espirito Santo Investment, The Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks to fund the construction of the £390m stadium.
Read more: No, Arsene, Arsenal aren't champions away from home — you'd still be fighting for top four
The Gunners have not won the league since work began in 2004 and Wenger now faces discontent amongst a frustrated fanbase.
"When we built the stadium the banks demanded that I signed for five years," said the 66-year-old.
"The banks wanted the technical consistency to guarantee that we have a chance to pay them back.
"Do you want me to say how many clubs I turned down during that period?
"I did commit and I stayed, and under very difficult circumstances. So for me to come back and, on top of that, (critics) reproach me for not having won the championship during that period, I think it's a bit overboard."