Ian Wright may have misinterpreted comments regarding my future, says Arsene Wenger

Wright had said on BBC Radio5 Live on Friday night that the Frenchman gave him the impression that his time at Arsenal was coming to an end

Wenger was forced to watch Arsenal from the stands for a fourth and final time (Getty)

A visibly delighted Arsene Wenger has said that Ian Wright may have misinterpreted what he meant when discussing “the end” at a Diamond Club event on Thursday, and insisted he gave no indication on his future.

Wright had said on BBC Radio5 Live on Friday night that he had been with the manager at the event, and his impression was that the 67-year-old was speaking about potentially finishing in a way that he had never done before, giving the former Arsenal striker the impression he could well reject the club’s two-year contract offer and leave in the summer. “I was with the boss last night and if I’m going to be totally honest I get the impression that that’s it,” Wright said.

Asked about this, Wenger initially pleaded ignorance, saying “I don’t know what Wright said”. When pressed on the comments and whether the pundit maybe misinterpreted him, the manager said that was a possibility.

A certain amount of confusion still remains about the night, however. Arsenal maintain that any comments were said in a questions-and-answers session with up to 500 members of the Diamond Club, but Wenger actually admitted that he also had a private dinner with Wright and a handful of other people beforehand.

“We had a little dinner before but we were not the two of us. We were four, five.”

It reflected Wenger’s mood, however, that he was dealing with all this with a smile and some jokes.

“Mark [Gonella, Arsenal communications director] was with me as well on Thursday. There was a question and answers. I could be tired because I get up early in the morning and I finish late at night so sometimes I am tired, yes but I didn't give any indication about my future.

“I appreciate very much that you want me to rest, absolutely, but I am not ready for that.”

The Independent understands that Wenger has still not made any decision on his future, leaving the situation open.