Wenger keeps his counsel

LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his future was “not sorted completely” on Thursday as he ducked another opportunity to confirm his plans.

Wenger, the Gunners’ manager since 1996, has come under renewed criticism from fans this season after his team was humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and dropped out of the Premier League top four.

The Frenchman said recently that he would make an announcement on his future “very soon”.

However, he did not divulge any new information on the situation at his weekly media conference on Thursday.

“Not today, but I’m very clear in my mind,” Wenger said at Arsenal’s London Colney training base when asked if there was any news on his future.

“Do I stay two months or two years? My commitment will be exactly the same. The time I spent here doesn’t influence at all my attitude.

“I’ve always been very clear in my mind, but I think it’s a subject that is not sorted completely out.”

Wenger is reported to have been offered a new two-year contract by Arsenal.

It is 13 years since the north London club’s last league title, and its 10-2 aggregate defeat by Bayern condemned it to a seventh successive last-16 exit in the Champions League.

Arsenal is sixth in the Premier League standings ahead of Sunday’s visit to Emirates Stadium of third-place Manchester City, having lost four of their last five games.

But Wenger dismissed the suggestion that the uncertainty about his future was negatively impacting his players.

“No, I believe the priority in life is always to focus on what is important and not to look for excuses,” he said.

“At the moment our are not going the way they should, but we have to make sure the priority is what happens on the pitch.”

Arsenal chairman Chips Keswick refused to comment on Wenger’s future after being doorstepped by a camera crew from Sky Sports News.

“I never make press statements and I’m not about to start now,” Keswick said.

Asked if Wenger was still the rightmanforthejob,hereplied: “I’m not answering that.”

Wenger also reacted to comments in the Chilean media by star striker Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez is said to be a target for Arsenal’s city rival Chelsea, and the 28-year-old was quoted as saying he is “happy in London”, but wants to play for a team that has a “winning mentality”.

“There’s only one team in London, so he’s happy,” Wenger joked.