Fifa president Gianni Infantino relieved he doesn't have to deal with Arsene Wenger's problems at Arsenal

James Benge9 March 2017

Gianni Infantino believes he has quite enough on his plate as Fifa president without having to deal with Arsene Wenger’s problems at Arsenal.

Infantino was elected in 2016 with a vow to reform football’s governing body, which has been mired in crisis for years.

Arsenal’s difficulties may not have been as prolonged but their manager’s future is increasingly unclear as he enters the final months of his contract with a growing section of fans demanding Wenger leave.

The club’s chairman said on Thursday that any decision over Wenger’s future would be a mutual one between board and manager. Infantino is certainly pleased it is not a debate he has to engage with.

AFP/Getty Images

"Arsene Wenger is an icon of Arsenal. Even his first name is Arsene. It's linked for eternity," Infantino said in London.

"I'm very happy I have to deal with many other challenges, but not with managing Arsenal.

"It will be up to the managers of Arsenal to decide what the future of Arsenal will be.

"But what Arsene Wenger has done in Arsenal throughout history is certainly... he's a big personality of football. He's one of the football legends."

Wenger has said his preference is to remain at Arsenal next season but insisted he would take fans’ feelings into consideration when he decides whether to sign a new contract.

Arsenal fans protest against Arsene Wenger | March 7, 2017

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A section of supporters are expected to march against Wenger again ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Lincoln at the Emirates. Around 300 fans gathered outside their former stadium Highbury on Tuesday ahead of Arsenal’s 5-1 Champions League humbling by Bayern Munich.

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