BIG DEAL

2 more years for Arsene, WIN OR LOSE

ARSENE WENGER will be a winner whatever the result of today’s FA Cup final. Arsenal expect him to sign a new two-year contract regardless of the outcome at Wembley. An announcement could come as early as next week, when a board meeting is likely to ratify the decision for him to stay as manager, with a behind-the-scenes reshuffle. And his future will not rest on 90

minutes of football after 20 years in charge. Chelsea are heavy favourites to lift the Cup, with Arsenal – who missed out on the Champions League – hit by injury. But there is still a view that Wenger has been remarkably loyal and consistent and the club hierarchy believe that with changes, Arsenal can challenge again. A new post will oversee contracts, logistics and pool medical information to support Wenger, but it is very unlikely to be a high-profile appointment and would not be a director of football. There could also be some changes to coaching staff, even though Wenger is fiercely protective of his assistants. But there appears to have been a compromise and a push for a deal on the table since October to finally be signed.