Gunners chief urges Wenger to extend contract

Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger has received an appeal from club chairman Peter Hill-Wood to extend his contract beyond 2014.

The Frenchman's deal runs for another two years, but Hill-Wood intends to quiet the critics after the 61 year-old provided the team with the response needed to get past the worst start to the season in 58 years.

Arsenal are now third in the table and are in a privileged position to secure direct qualification to the Champions League next season.

“For him to stay longer than that [2014] would be perfect. I can't think of anybody better to run the team. And he has shown how much rubbish people were talking earlier this season. We had a terrible run of injuries and that obviously had an effect,” Hill-Wood told the Sunday Mirror.

“But a few mindless people were saying that he had to go, that Arsène was past his sell-by date. He has shown that is nonsense. He has a young squad, with some excellent young players. He is building a young team with a great future and I am sure he would love to see them develop. I would want him to stay as long as he is happy here. He has been with us 14 years and has done a magnificent job. I want him to stay for the long-term and I see no reason at all why he should want to go.”

Arsène Wenger Arsène Wenger  France 1949-10-22 (63 years) See coach profile>