Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given the club a glimpse of the future by saying he could leave when his contract expires in two years’ time.
The Frenchman has been in charge of the Gunners since September 1996, but is currently overseeing a seven-year trophy drought.
That prompted previously unthinkable scenes last term, as some Arsenal fans turned on Wenger, chanting: “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
Photo: AFP
Then the departure of former captain and star striker Robin van Persie in pre-season — the latest in a line of Gunners skippers to leave the London side — to Premier League rivals Manchester United sparked fresh concerns.
Those will only be intensified if Arsenal drop points to newly promoted Southampton at the Emirates today, with the visitors bottom of the table and the only team in the division still without a point.
“I’m an Arsenal man,” 62-year-old Wenger said. “I think I’ve always shown that. I have to consider if I do well or not. If I don’t do well, I have to consider my future. At the moment we are not there. Two years is a long time in my job. I just want to do well for the club as long as I can and accept all the rest.”
Meanwhile, Southampton manager Nigel Adkins, having seen his side score against both Manchester United and Manchester City, remained in upbeat mood.
“We have to win games, we know that and we’re positive about that. We’ll get ready for the next one and fight all the way,” Adkins said. “We managed to score goals against United and City, and have to make sure we keep doing that.”
Table-toppers Chelsea, the UEFA Champions League holders, make the short journey to local rivals Queens Park Rangers with the only played three, won three record in the Premier League, but the latest edition of the west London derby continues to be over-shadowed by the fall out from allegations involving John Terry and Anton Ferdinand.
The match will be the first between the clubs since Chelsea and England defender Terry was found not guilty of using a racial slur against QPR’s Ferdinand in the corresponding fixture in October last year.
Terry, still the subject of a Football Association investigation over charges he has always denied, is set to be fit for today’s game following an ankle injury suffered on England duty.
Ferdinand is also recovering from a shoulder injury, meaning the defenders are on course to come face to face for the first time since the Chelsea captain’s race trial in July.
Reigning champions Manchester City will hope to welcome back Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, who injured his knee during the opening weekend win over Southampton, for the tricky trip to an always obdurate Stoke City.
“The balance of the squad is good in terms of the alternatives that we’ve got,” Manchester City assistant manager David Platt said. “I think we’ve got more strength in depth than we did have.”
Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel is looking forward to Van Persie, who has scored four goals in his first three appearances for Alex Ferguson’s side, continuing his form against Wigan Athletic.
“He has been perfect for what we needed to do,” the former goalkeeper said. “We have brought the right player in.”
Liverpool travel to Sunderland looking for their first league win under new manager Brendan Rodgers and the match comes at the end of an emotional week for the club.
An independent report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool supporters, found that police changed statements and tried to blame the supporters for the crush.
Today also sees Aston Villa take on Swansea City, Fulham up against West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City at home to West Ham United, while Reading and Tottenham Hotspur meet tomorrow.
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