Wenger not ready to call time
ARSENE WENGER may be turning 60 next month, but the Arsenal boss has put to bed any suggestions of retirement, insisting he will carry on until no longer physically able.
The French maestro has been at the helm since September 1996, winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups as well as reaching a Champions League final. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was talked out of retirement when he turned 60 in 2001 and the Gunners boss intends to follow his rival’s lead and carry on.
“I can understand that Ferguson’s decision, I said I’d stop at 50,” he said.
“I don’t believe in retiring unless you have to. I’ve never had a day when I think I could live without football.
“I know one day it will happen but you shouldn’t live every day knowing you are going to die – you live knowing that you want to live.” And Wenger regards leading Arsenal to an unbeaten Premier League season in 2003-4 as his finest achievement.
He added: “It was always my dream to go the whole season unbeaten because there’s not much more anyone can do to beat that.”
Meanwhile, Wenger welcomes attackers Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott back to the squad to face Fulham tomorrow. Walcott is in line for his appearance of the season.