Wenger not planning for 26 years as Arsenal coach

Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger has said that backing from the majority of the English football club's fans will not tempt him to try and match Alex Ferguson's 26-year Manchester United reign.

Wenger went into Saturday evening's clash with Norwich City, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Gunners, facing a backlash from supporters tired of waiting for the end of their 12-year Premier League title drought.

But the protests at the Emirates stadium, in the 12th and 78th minute, were largely drowned out by Wenger's backers who still believe in the Frenchman as he closes in on 20 years with the club.

Wenger is out of contract at the end of next season, but has consistently said he would like to stay in the shorter term if offered another extension.

Asked if he was even thinking he could match Ferguson's longevity, the 66-year-old said, "No, no, never. Don't worry.

"I give my best for this club. You don't spend 19 years at a club - like Sir Alex Ferguson spent 26 (years) - without every minute of your time, you give your whole life for that and try to do as well as possible," Wenger was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Sunday.

"One target is to keep 100 percent of people happy. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do that this season."

The Frenchman also said he would have understood had the protests been louder, as he had been expecting, and said the disappointment at their Premier League failure this season was felt just as much by staff and players as fans.

"I am not in a democracy. I am in the next game, perform, try to do as well as you can and accept people's opinions. That is what it is about," he added.

--IANS

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