Arsenal are ready to hand manager Arsene Wenger a place on the club's board.
The Daily Mail says Wenger is to be offered a role on the Arsenal board as part of a long-term strategy to keep hold of the most successful manager in the club's history.
In a move which has echoes of the job for life' promise made by former vice-chairman David Dein, the role has already been discussed tentatively by senior board members at Arsenal.
Although the possibility of Wenger taking a directorship will not prevent him continuing as manager, the club's director and powerbroker Danny Fiszman is exploring ways of appeasing Wenger after another quiet summer in the transfer market.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is excited about the young talent coming through the club.
"There are some youngsters doing very well for us," Wenger told the official Emirates Cup programme. "You've seen Jack Wilshere who is catching the eye at the moment. He is surprisingly mature for his age, you forget how old he is when you see him play. But there is also Jay Simpson, Mark Randall, Gavin Hoyte and Henri Lansbury who were with us out in Austria. All five of them are good players though, which is why I took them to Austria. All those players will make a career, and hopefully at Arsenal."
He especially named 16 year-old Jack Wilshire in his first team squad for the new season.
Wilshire, who featured in the Emirates Cup, has been handed Gilberto Silva's old No19 shirt after the Brazilian's departure for Panathinaikos.
The attacking midfielder joined Arsenal as a nine year-old in October 2001. Last season he scored 13 times in 19 Under-18 league outings and also netted twice from two reserve team starts, all while still a schoolboy.
Armand Traore has signed a new contract with Arsenal.
The 18 year-old French fullback has penned a long-term deal with the Gunners, it was announced yesterday.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie says another trophyless season won't be good enough.
He said: "Arsenal have to win something every year, that is our aim. If it's not happening, everyone is disappointed. I want to win as much as possible. Just look around at what is here, at the stadium.
"Any of the top four can win the title. I am not going to say we are going to win it because you never know. But I am committed to win it and so is everyone here."
Van Persie, 25 tomorrow, hopes to put two years of injury problems behind him and help Arsenal continue last season's progress, when they finished four points behind champions United.
"I just do not want to think about that negative stuff," he said.
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