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Arsene Wenger

LONDON. — Manager Arsene Wenger is set to sign a new contract to extend his 18-year stay with the English Premier League soccer leaders, the club’s chief executive said on Monday.
Wenger will have more money to spend on players this summer after the club signed a new kit supply deal with German company Puma that begins on July 1.

The Frenchman, whose contract is up at the end of the season, will be boosted by a staggering £150m British record kit sponsorship deal.
The five-year agreement — which sees Puma replace Nike from next season — will see the English Premier League leaders compete with their big-spending rivals.

Wenger will have up to £100m at his disposal this summer and the new deal could open the door for a move for Monaco’s £51m Colombian superstar Falcao, who is sponsored by Puma.

Frenchman Wenger has also been told to try to land German wonderkid Julian Draxler from Schalke this week.
Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis gave the clearest indication yet that Frenchman Wenger would remain at Arsenal, indicating that finalising a new contract was just a matter of time.

“We’ve always supported Arsene, the board has always been completely behind him as has (owner) Stan Kroenke,” Gazidis told a news conference when asked about the future of the manager whose contract runs out at the end of the season.

“We are comfortable in the position, relaxed about it. As I’ve said before, Arsene will be extending with us and at the right time we’ll make that announcement,” he added.

Wenger has been Arsenal manager since 1996 and has led the club to three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.
However, the trophies have dried up since 2005 although Arsenal have continued to qualify for the Champions League.

The Puma deal, worth around 30 million pounds a season, will help Arsenal to compete with the top clubs in Europe in the transfer market.

“One of our long-term goals has to been to increase our commercial revenues and there is a football reason for that, it’s to be able to invest that in our squad,” Gazidis said.

“So this is a very important step in terms of our progression on the pitch and as we look from this summer onwards, that money will be available to the manager,” he added.

Puma has ousted Nike as the kit supplier to Arsenal in a deal that starts on July 1.
Helped by an enhanced sponsorship deal with airline Emirates, the north London club spent a club record 42.5 million pounds on German Mesut Ozil at the start of this season.

The Gunners are trying to capture attacking midfielder Draxler from Schalke ahead of  Friday’s transfer deadline, a deal that will cost in excess of £30m. It is clear after years of careful spending at the Emirates that the financial straitjacket has been removed.

The club record £42m deal to buy Ozil from Real Madrid was a clear indication that the club are ready to compete for the world’s top players and their move for 20-year-old Draxler underlines that point.

Arsenal’s deal with Puma tops Liverpool’s £25m-a-year contract with Warrior. Manchester United have been renegotiating their contract with Nike and are expected soon to top Arsenal’s, with it anticipated to be worth £76m a year.

Meanwhile, Wenger wants new rules brought in to ensure a level playing field when it comes to fixture pile-ups.
Arsenal face a gruelling February in which they face four massive games in a make-or-break 11-day spell.

The Gunners play Manchester United and Liverpool in the league, Liverpool again in the FA Cup, and then Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Wenger said: “You ask me whether we are doing enough to help English teams in the Champions League? — Soccernet