Kroenke wants Wenger to stay

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has made it clear
he wants manager Arsene Wenger to stay at the
club and end the Gunners' trophy drought.
French boss Wenger has already been at the
north London side for 17 years. But Arsenal
have now entered their ninth season without
silverware, their last major trophy the 2005 FA
Cup.
Wenger's contract is due to expire after the
end of the current campaign and there has
been speculation regarding the 63-year-old's
long-term future.
But American businessman Kroenke, in a rare
interview with Friday's Daily Telegraph, made it
clear he wanted Wenger to stay in post.
"There's no one I feel more strongly about and
I think he is doing a great job," Kroenke said.
"We have been very supportive, we have never
wavered, we are proud of him, proud of the
club, the way the club is run and how it holds
itself out to the world."
Asked if Wenger was part of Arsenal's long-
term plans, Kroenke replied: "That's exactly
right. Arsene knows how we feel, what our
philosophy is, what we want to do and I feel
like we are totally aligned.
"I think he wants to do it the exact same way
as we do."
The club record signing of Germany
international Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for
£42.4 million ($66 million, 50 million euros)
was a departure from recent Arsenal transfer
policy but Kroenke insisted it had not been
motivated by the board.
"I really enjoy Arsene -- very smart, very
intelligent. He has an absolute view on how he
runs that team and the club. He has earned
that right.
"Don't look for me to interfere with that. I
have learnt over the years that sometimes
owners try do that and it is not so good.
"We've always said that there are resources
available. There are guys who say that we
should push Arsene harder to spend. That's
fair enough --there are always lots of opinions
but Arsene is an independent thinker and
planner.
"He works very hard at it and has a wonderful
record. He was trained in economics, my
undergraduate study was in economics."
Kroenke -- whose other sports interests include
running ice hockey team Colorado Avalanche,
Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids and the
Denver Nuggets NBA basketball side, rejected
the view advanced by some Arsenal fans he is
unconcerned about winning trophies with the
Gunners.
"There would be nothing more thrilling," said
Kroenke. "I'm not getting any younger," the
66-year-old added.
"It's something I would like to achieve. I've
done it a couple of times in the US and it was
unbelievable.
"For the players, for the coaches and the
manager, as well everyone around the club, I
can't imagine the level of excitement.
"The idea that no one cares or is passionate
about that sort of thing is just beyond the
realms of imagination."