Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says Arsene Wenger was not given a new contract due to nostalgia: 'If you look across the world of football, you don't find better candidates'
- Ivan Gazidis says Arsenal examined others before giving Arsene Wenger a deal
- Wenger signed a new deal despite protests and finishing fifth in the league
- Gazidis warned hiring a new face would not solve all of Arsenal's problems
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has said they examined other options before handing Arsene Wenger a new contract as manager, but claimed 'you don't find better candidates.'
Wenger, who has a managed the Gunners for 20 years, signed a new two-year deal last summer despite finishing outside the Premier League top four for the first time in that period.
A section of supporters made vocal protests that Wenger should leave, but Gazidis warned that simply hiring a new face would not solve all their problems.
Ivan Gazidis says Arsenal examined other options before giving Arsene Wenger a new deal
Wenger, who has managed the Gunners for 20 years, signed a new deal despite protests
Arsenal began their 2017-18 Premier League campaign on Friday night, at home to Leicester
Gazidis told Sky Sports: 'We're in a society now where we are encouraged to throw away the old and buy the new thing which will make you happy and solve your issues. For us we thought about the issue of who we wanted to take us forward.
'When we thought about the key qualities, they were the experience, the gravitas for a club like this, a record of success in the game. Also we wanted someone who could represent our values as a club, what we stand for in the world of football and with our fans.
'We wanted someone who would play attacking, attractive football, that is a core part of this football club, and finally someone who would give young players a chance. We see players like Hector Bellerin, Alex Iwobi coming through, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock have had a fantastic pre-season.
Gazidis warned that simply hiring a new face would not solve all of Arsenal's problems
'If you look across the world of football this is a plum position, people want to be manager of Arsenal. If you look across the world of football, you don't find better candidates than Arsene Wenger. We kept coming back to Arsene.
'It wasn't a sentimental decision, it wasn't based on 20 years of history with the club although there is tremendous loyalty which comes with that, but it wasn't a decision made out of loyalty, but out of the qualities the club has and what we feel we need over the next two years to take this club forward.'
Arsenal began their 2017-18 Premier League campaign on Friday night, at home to Leicester City.
They have won trophies in each of their last two competitive games, beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final last season then in the season opening Community Shield at Wembley.
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