D-day looms for Wenger as board prepares to meet

The Arsenal board will meet on Tuesday to discuss Arsène Wenger’s future. The Frenchman will be present, as he always is, as will the majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, his son Josh, the chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, the chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, the directors Ken Friar and Lord Harris of Peckham and the club secretary, David Miles. An announcement is expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

Wenger’s future has been the subject of fierce debate for most of the season and he admitted after the FA Cup final success against Chelsea at Wembley that the uncertainty had had an impact on the season. He said: “For me the contract does not have a special meaning but, because of the debate, I should have sorted that out earlier.”

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It has been a turbulent season for Arsenal, with Wenger’s contract situation overshadowing a campaign in which the club did not finish in the top four for the first time since the manager joined in October 1996 and failed to qualify for the Champions League.

But they finished on a high with the unexpected 2-1 win against Chelsea on Saturday, which completed a run of nine victories in 10 games after Wenger switched formation to accommodate a back three. When asked if he would make a presentation at the board meeting, Wenger replied: “The best presentation? Watch the game [against Chelsea] and there can be no doubt.”