Arsene Wenger Certain to Be Arsenal Manager Next Season, Says Robert Pires

Arsenal legend Robert Pires is in no doubt about Arsene Wenger's continued commitment to the Gunners and insists the French manager will still be in charge at the Emirates next season.

Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and is by some distance the longest-standing current Premier League manager.

However, a decade of non-existent title challenges and five consecutive years of last-16 Champions League exits—most recently and embarrassingly at the hands of Monaco—have left many questioning whether Wenger may have reached the end of the road.

Pires, though, has little time for such thinking, and is adamant the 65-year-old—who signed a contract extension to 2017 last year—will continue as manager of Arsenal next season, per RMC (h/t Ian Holyman of ESPN):

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It's not a question of strength. He's not tired. He still has that desire to be on the pitch, because he loves it, it's his vocation, he's been doing it for many years. His aim is to qualify for the Champions League, which I think will happen, and what is certain is that you will see him on the bench again next year.

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Pires was part of Wenger's legendary Invincibles side that went the entire 2003-04 league season unbeaten on its way to the title.

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That triumph is the most recent of Wenger's three Premier League victories, and the Gunners have barely challenged legitimately for the title since, their last runners-up finish coming the following season.

Last season's FA Cup win was Wenger's first major trophy in nine seasons, a period in which fans and media have sporadically called for him to be moved on.

The Gunners have looked improved in the 2014-15 term and are fighting for both second place in the Premier League and another FA Cup win, with B/R UK's James McNicholas convinced they can challenge for the title next season:

Arsenal can take a huge step to securing an 18th consecutive top-four finish this season if they beat Liverpool at home in the weekend's marquee Premier League clash.

The fact that Wenger has been able to deliver such consistency, while unglamorous, is impressive. And it is this that has undoubtedly stabilised Arsenal as a club and kept him in a job despite a lack of league titles.

The idea of Arsenal without Wenger is a strange one. But while it will be the case at some point, Wenger looks set to be in charge still next term.

With a lack of genuine alternative options, Wenger is still certainly the best man for the top job at Arsenal, and perhaps he can deliver a title once again next season.