Wenger on the brink of signing a new deal

Arsène Wenger is ready to end the uncertainty over his Arsenal future by signing an extension to his contract, revealing yesterday that supporters could expect "some news on Thursday or Friday".

The manager, whose present deal expires at the end of the season, has been in negotiations for some weeks about fresh terms and he has always maintained that he wants to stay.

Wenger is in bullish mood after his team's encouraging start to the season - they have taken 10 points from 12 in the Premier League and have also won through to the Champions League group stage, beating Sparta Prague in the final qualifying round - and he is eager for his young players to enter their prime years under his guidance. "Am I still motivated to go on at Arsenal? Yes, absolutely," he said. "I am very motivated. With all the young players I signed, I feel a responsibility. I am in talks with Arsenal. I can't see any drawback to extend. There will be some news on Thursday or Friday."

Wenger has watched rival clubs spend heavily over the summer, most notably Manchester United and Liverpool, while he has been relatively frugal. Yet he retains conviction in what he calls "the Arsenal way", polishing uncut gems, and he believes that the future will bring silverware, particularly with players such as Cesc Fábregas and Robin van Persie maturing fast.

He even suggested that the departure to Barcelona of Thierry Henry, the club's record goalscorer, could have had a liberating effect.

"We lost the star of our club, Thierry Henry, so it has changed something indeed," he said. "But maybe it has pushed the youngsters to take on more responsibilities.

"We had a nice start to the season. We still have our technical game and we have a young team that has got a little more experience. It is a little early to take stock after three [Premier League] matches at home. Our real challenges will be away from home against the big teams."

Wenger, who joined Arsenal, unheralded after working in Japan, in September 1996, has never broken a contract. He was championed for the post by the club's then vice-chairman, David Dein.

He has repeatedly stated that his signature on the new deal was close, that only fine tuning remained. The international break appears to have provided the time for manager and board to resolve the final details.