Wenger’s grounds for optimism
Wenger hailed the club's announcement yesterday that they had secured funding for the £357 million scheme at Ashburton Grove as "one of the most important dates in our history".
Despite delays over complicated planning and financing issues, Wenger has always believed a new stadium is imperative to enable Arsenal to keep pace with Manchester United.
However, the Arsenal boss, who tonight leads his side into Champions League action at Celta Vigo, only has an existing contract until the end of next season. That runs out 12 months before Arsenal will be in their new ground and the board will be heartened to hear their manager is intent upon staying put, at least until his team are settled in their new home.
"I'm prepared to be committed to the club at least until we go into the new stadium," he insisted. "For me, it's important that the club goes in there and that I make sure the team are at a very good level.
"After that, whether it's me or someone else, the club will be able to compete at the highest level. But for me to run away now would not be fair."
The likelihood is that Wenger will stay on even longer. After all, he understands the responsibility now weighing down on his shoulders.
Arsenal will be borrowing up to £285m to fund the project and, while the greater capacity should provide the necessary funds to balance the books, it is all dependent on the success of the team.
Wenger is, therefore, crucial to the project, given that he has brought two doubles to Highbury in his seven years in charge of the club, who currently lead the Premiership by seven clear points.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood admitted: "The gamble we are taking is that Arsene continues to work the miracles that he's worked for the past seven years or so.
"Will he stay at the club? I sincerely hope so he might even be chairman!"
Wenger responded: "It has been a big target of mine to participate in pushing the club forward and relocating to a new stadium is a necessity as it will enable us to become of one the biggest clubs in the world.
"Yes, it's a gamble, but it shows that the club are really prepared to go for it. It proves that the board share my ambition to push the club forward and to try and be the best. Of course, I feel responsibility on my shoulders. I will try to stand up to it as it would really be a disaster in a new stadium to have just 67 people there."
Wenger must, therefore, ensure Arsenal are still playing to sell-out crowds when the 2006-07 season starts, but his chances of keeping his key players are now enhanced.
Captain Patrick Vieira declared: "The new stadium will be impressive and will definitely be the envy of clubs, not only in England, but across the world."
Thierry Henry added: "Obviously, I will regret the team leaving Highbury, but if you want to move forward and be a bigger team in Europe, you need this kind of great stadium."
Although Arsenal are only moving a mile from their current home, the project has been bedevilled by complications over planning issues, as it involves relocating a waste recycling centre and several local businesses.
The key issues have nevertheless been resolved, while a £260m loan will be taken out over 14 years with a group of banks, while the remaining funds come from deals with Granada and Nike, the sale of surplus land and the residential development of Highbury.
Above all, Wenger believes the new stadium will secure the long-term future of the club, even if the debt must be paid off in the meantime.
"As a manager, you have a short-term responsibility for results, but also for the long-term to push the club to a higher level," he explained. "At the moment, we rely a bit on lucky buys and I would like to build on that.
"In 14 years' time, when I don't think I will be in charge any more, the natural potential of the club will be huge.
"Before that, we have to repay the stadium, but we will still have better financial possibilities than we do now."
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