Wenger signs extended Gunners deal

LONDON, England -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ended months of uncertainty by signing a new three-year contract extension which will tie him contractually to the Premier League giants until June 2011.

The Frenchman's future had been rumored to be in doubt following the controversial departure of former vice-chairman and close ally David Dein in April, but he has now decided to stay on.

Wenger told the club's official Web site: "My heart is tied to this football club so signing a new deal was always my intention.

"Arsenal is the club of my life. I have been entrusted with complete freedom to implement and execute my plans on what will make the team successful and that means I have a responsibility to the fans to deliver silverware and also a responsibility to the players to help turn our potential into prizes.

"This club has deep-seated roots and a tremendous heritage and it is my aim to uphold these important values and help create new history for future generations to recount."

Despite the high-profile departure of star striker Thierry Henry to Barcelona, Arsenal have made a fine start to the new season as they bid to regain the Premier League crown.

But there is still uncertainty at the club, with American billionaire Stan Kroenke showing a keen interest in getting involved and Dein having recently linked up with Uzbek Alisher Usmanov at the head of 'Red and White Holdings'.

Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and guided them to the league-FA Cup double in 1998 and 2002.

In 2003/04 he became the only Premier League manager to take his team throughout the whole season without a defeat as they won the title for a third time. E-mail to a friend