Wenger Talks about Longevity and Wants to End Career at Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger is the undisputed longest serving manager presently at the helm of a Premier League club and he wants to end his career at the Emirate Stadium.

‘The Gunners’ face a trip to Swansea on Saturday as the football season enters its sixth week and with the top spot within grasp, they will hope to maintain their perfect away record.

So far so good, Wenger has inspired an opening day revolt from the club’s supporters- following Arsenal’s Matchday 1 loss to Aston Villa- into an early clamour for more. More trophies, more purposeful football, of the ‘invisibles,’ and yes! More of the ‘Immortals.’

Honestly, I would love to be here forever because that would mean I would be immortal! I’m not naïve enough to believe that. What I would like to do as long as I am here is give my best for this club because I love this club of course… Arsene Wenger. September 27 2013.

The Frenchman says he loves football “adventure.” That shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of the fans who must have witnessed the decline from the class of 2004 to, most recently, last season’s late gasp for Champions League slot. Not much has changed in terms of acquisitions this season and the manager insists it is that same penchant that has given birth to his longevity at Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger Says There's Likely Not Going to Be Managerial Vacancy at the Emirates Until He Quits.
Arsene Wenger Says There’s Likely Not Going to Be Managerial Vacancy at the Emirates Until He Quits.

Wenger will be 17-years-old as Arsenal manager next Tuesday, when the north London outfit hosts Rafael Benitez’s Napoli. He is proud of the years gone by and admits he turned down other opportunities because of the special qualities at Arsenal.

“It’s a long time and short time,” he joked when quizzed on his longevity at his pre-match conference on Friday. “I don’t know where the 17 years have gone.

“Our job has a good advantage- you just look forward to the next game. You never look back. I believe that is the most important. Of course when you look backwards, there’s a lot of effort and consistency in effort behind that. For me the most interesting is tomorrow’s game.

“I turned many offers down because I rate what I got here. I always thought that this club is special on that front and in our job it’s important to know what you want and I rated the qualities that this club has always shown,” Wenger added.

“But I never thought I’d be here so long. I always said that our job is work like you’re here forever and know that it can end every day. That’s how I do (my job).”

The 63-year-old coach was “grateful” to the club, stressing that despite the challenges of steering the Arsenal’s ship, they’ve always been supportive.

“What is important is that you feel you can do your job where you are and I’m very grateful to this club because during the 17 years we’ve had ups and downs, but they have always shown a big faith in me and they always let me do the job like I thought it had to be done.

“If I’m still here today it’s because I got that consistent support from inside the Club,” Wenger said.