LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger confirmed that he is "days away" from signing a new contract that will ensure he remains Arsenal manager for at least two years after the club moves to its new Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are due to switch from their current Highbury home to a 60,000-seat venue at nearby Ashburton Grove in time for the 2006-07 season.
The official name of the new stadium was announced Tuesday as part of a 15-year sponsorship tie-up with Emirates Airlines that will be worth 100 million pounds to the English champions.
Speaking in the wake of the announcement, Wenger said: "I've said many times I am committed to Arsenal and now it is just a question of days when an extension of my contract will be announced."
The Frenchman ruled out a move to Real Madrid this summer and has previously resisted overtures from the France, Germany and Japan national associations.
He is expected to sign a new deal that will keep him in north London until 2008. His current deal expires at the end of this season but Arsenal have an option to keep him for a further season.
"The extension will be for a few years. I see no problems with that," he said.
"It may not be to 2021 (when Arsenal's Emirates agreement is due to expire). I don't know if I will be sitting here then but it will be for a few years."
Wenger welcomed Emirates' long-term backing. "We will have money to spend on paying for the stadium and improving the team, whatever is more important at the time. It is nice to have the choice," he said.
"Perhaps we do not always realise how respected we are but it is not just the new sponsorship that is keeping me here. My contract is just a question now of fine details between my lawyer and the club's lawyers. The money is not in question."
Arsenal have been at Highbury since 1913 but the club's ability to compete financially with rivals like Manchester United has been hampered by its relatively small capacity of 38,500.
The expansion of Highbury was unfeasible because of building restrictions -- part of the stadium is listed -- and objections from local residents.
As a result the club opted to build a new stadium on land currently used as a rubbish dump at a cost of 400 million pounds.
Given higher ticket prices in London, Arsenal should overtake Manchester United in terms of gate revenues as soon as the club move into the new ground, even allowing for United's planned expansion of Old Trafford's capacity to 75,000.
The agreement with Emirates was signed Tuesday at Highbury by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood and Maurice Flanagan, the airline's vice-chairman and group president.
The airline's backing includes an eight-year shirt sponsorship deal which will start after Arsenal's current agreement with mobile phone company 02 expires next year.
The Gunners will wear the logo "Fly Emirates" on their shirts.
Keith Edelman, managing director of Arsenal, said the lucrative deal would strengthen Wenger's hand in the transfer market.
"I think you can assume that a lot more money will now filter through to Arsene for building the squad if he feels he needs it," he said.
"These are exciting times and this is a long-term partnership, the biggest sponsorship in English football. It will help Arsenal reach new markets over the next 15 years and beyond."
Emirates are currently shirt sponsors of Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea, but that deal expires at the end of the current season.
Emirates Airlines chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum hopes the tie-up will boost the popularity of the sport in the United Arab Emirates still further.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sponsor such a major new stadium and club, and represents a win-win partnership for both Emirates and Arsenal," Sheikh Ahmed said.
Emirates also sponsor match referees at Premiership and Football League level through an agreement with the Professional Game Match Official Limited (PGMOL) which runs until 2007.