Under fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he will remain in management next season.
Wenger will make a decision on whether to remain Arsenal manager in March or April as speculation surrounds the Frenchman's future.
The Gunners boss has suffered criticism from fans following Arsenal's humiliating 5-1 thrashing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night. But he has made it cleared he will be in management next season 'whether that is at Arsenal or elsewhere'.
With rumours mounting about who will replace Wenger at Arsenal, the 67-year-old was forced to answer questions on his future in his Friday press conference.
He said: "My future is not important, the team is and Arsenal Football Club. We have to focus on real problems, the way we play football and not my future.
"No matter what happens, I will manage next season. Whether it is here or not, that is for sure. I hate defeat, I hate to lose games. I have a big responsibility at this club. It is difficult to take but I have the strength and experience," added Wenger.
Wenger is the longest serving manager in the Premier League with 20 years experience leading the Gunners but it appears that time may be coming to an end. Whether he stays or not though, he wants to make sure Arsenal find the right replacement but makes it clear a change in manager will not make things perfect at the Emirates.
He said: "It is important for the club to make the right decision for the future. I did not work here for 20 years not to care. I had many opportunities to go somewhere else but I care for this club and its future. It is important to be in safe hands.
"Even if I go, Arsenal will not win every game. I hope in the future, we can win this trophy [Champions League] but it is not like I arrived. They had never won the European Cup before I arrived. You have to take that in mind," admitted Wenger.
Arsenal without Arsene Wenger will seem strange for a generation of football fans who have grown up with him in charge of the Gunners. Despite the heavy criticism from fans, most noticeably Arsenal Fan TV, Wenger has enjoyed huge success at Arsenal, and his Champions League qualification record was something he was keen to point out.
"As long as you don’t win everything, there is always something wrong. You have to accept that. In the last 20 clubs in Europe, only three clubs have played every season in the Champions League - Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. If everything is not perfect, not everything is wrong," added Wenger.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is the favourite to replace Wenger while a recent surge in the market has seen Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel enter the frame. Bournemouth's Eddie Howe has remained in the running for the role and there has also been some support in the market for ex-Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira in recent weeks.
