Arsenal managing director Keith
Edelman does not expect Arsene Wenger to leave the club for at
least another eight years.
Wenger, who was appointed Arsenal boss in 1996, this week
insisted he had no plans to retire while he still had a hunger for
success.
There had been speculation about the Frenchman's future when
vice chairman David Dein left Arsenal last August.
But The Gunners are again challenging for the Premier League
title this season and Edelman does not expect to have to deal with
Wenger's departure any time soon.
He said: "I don't think it's something we're contemplating at
this juncture. He has just the other day announced he has a desire
to go on forever.
"He won't go on forever, that's an exaggeration on his part, but
I don't think it will be my problem.
"I've got another seven or eight years to go (at the club) and
it won't be my worry."
Meanwhile, Edelman has hit out at critics of the Premier
League's plan to have an international round of matches.
Edelman accepts that the proposal needs to be reviewed
thoroughly but feels there are benefits to taking the Premier
League abroad.
He thinks much of the negative reaction has been based on an
emotional response rather than logical reasoning.
"I do think a lot of people are making snap comments on it and
not thinking it through strategically," he explained.
"They're not making analytical comments, they're making
emotional comments. It's a very serious issue and needs to be dealt
with in a very serious way.
"The fact that we have millions of (overseas) fans, millions
more offshore than in the UK, that is the germ of the intent - to
give those fans more than a televised product.
"That's the impetus behind the idea the Premier League came
forward with. We need to sit back, look very carefully and do the
analysis."