There have been big rumblings coming out of Arsenal today, some on the pitch and some off. Most notably, Ivan Gazidis has made it clear he expects Arsene Wenger to renew his contract, which expires at the end of next season, and that he is in for the ‘long term’ of Arsenal’s future.

The Arsenal CEO said:

"We have got a fantastic manager. We hope that he wants to do what he is doing for the long term. I believe he does.

Quietly and at the right time I think we will make an announcement on a new deal when things are put in place."

With pressure mounting on the manager to create another competitive squad, Arsenal likely want to sort out incoming transfers (more on that later) before announcing Wenger’s new deal, for PR reasons. The Frenchman continues to divide opinion.

Many want a fresh start and a clean slate for Arsenal, saying Wenger has taken the club far enough, with his seeming reluctance in the transfer market and poor choices on players costing the club success. Others feel that he’s sacrificed his reputation for long-term success for the club, and he deserves to see the club through into a new era of prosperity. I’m not going to offer my opinion, but I definitely don’t have a tattoo of Arsene’s face on my chest. Definitely not. Nope. Never.

Loadsamoney

Continuing to speak (amazingly not being set upon by rabid BSM members), Gazidis said Arsenal are moving into a new era of financial power, joining the heavyweights of European football.

He said on this subject:

"The critical thing now as we look ahead over the next season and the season after is our developing financial capability which will give us a lot more options than in recent years."

That hopefully means: buying better players, that not only make other sides take notice but enable the club to compete at the highest level.

There have been all kinds of names flying around in terms of targets, but one name has suddenly cropped up, and rumours are flying that a signing is imminent...

Fellaini

The Times (and goal.com, but we don’t count them) have it that Arsenal have activated Marouane Fellaini’s £22m release clause, and the player is willing to ignore Manchester United in favour of moving to North London. The Belgian is much-coveted in the Premier League as a result of his performances for Everton.

I wonder if he’s what Arsenal need. Certainly he’s tall and physical, which appears to fit the bill for what many fans want, but he fouls more than Alex Song and appears to have shown his best form further up. As a midfielder he can’t play the holding role, so you’d assume he’d be put in the role next to Mikel Arteta, as the box-to-box midfielder.

He’s certainly got the abilities to satisfy the offensive side of that position, but is he committed and disciplined enough to spend 90 minutes going up and down the pitch? I have my doubts-he’s criticised for laziness.

But if Arsene thinks he’s the man for the job, then he must have put some thought into it, and who am I to doubt a professional? Nobody, that’s who. A tiny, worthless nobody with a keyboard and an internet connection.

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