Wenger's job safe - even if Gunners finish fifth

Arsene Wenger has been assured his job is safe – even if Arsenal fail to get into the top four.

Wenger cast doubt over his future as Gunners manager by claiming he will review his position at the end of the season.

But the Arsenal board see Wenger’s explosive interview with a French newspaper as being too self-critical and merely a sign of the high ­standards he sets himself.

And Mirror Sport understands that the club’s hierarchy have been quick to reassure Wenger they want him to stay at the Emirates until at least the end of his contract in 2014.

Arsenal are back within touching distance of the top four but it is clear that Wenger believes anything less than a ­Champions League place will be seen as failure and at that point he would consider his future.

But majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, chief executive Ivan Gazidis and the board insist they want Wenger to stay – even if they miss out on Europe’s top tier.

Wenger has now backed away from his original comments, insisting that he remains committed and will prove his determination as he stressed Arsenal was ‘the club of my life’.

“I am completely committed to the club and I will show you that at the end of the season,” said Wenger.

“It was a little sentence which says I have two more years to go and I will stay and that is it.

“We have some way to go to show that this is the right way. That’s why what I wanted to say was we will see at the end of the season how far we can go.

“I’m very positive but how much do we want to be really successful? That’s what we have to show in the coming months.

“But I’m positive because I feel the team wants it but that’s what is in front of us.

“Five weeks ago we were 17th in the league and I had to answer questions, ‘do you think you are facing a ­relegation battle?’ At the time I said, ‘honestly, no’. But in football things change quickly so you are always on the short term.

“For us what is important is we are back in a stronger position, let’s continue to develop because we need to come back to the top.

“I speak for me. The club could decide to get rid of me tomorrow morning but I cannot interfere with that ­decision.”

Wenger did spell out his ­commitment but was still not completely clear in his message and that will be a ­frustration to the club as they face a critical few months.

While the board are adamant Wenger will stay, mixed messages will not be helpful as they look to tie down Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott – both with 18 months left on their current deals – to new contracts.

They are also trying to do business in January to strengthen the squad and push for the top four with Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze top of their wish-list.