When it comes to the wide debate about Arsene Wenger’s future, an argument often made is that it’s impossible to imagine him living without football, and he all but confirmed that on Thursday. The 67-year-old said that, regardless of what happens with Arsenal, he will not be retiring because “for old people retirement is dying”.

Laughing as he said it but also reflecting on how much the club has changed in his 20 years, Wenger said he has the same hunger and love for the game as when he first walked in the door at the club, and utterly hates defeat.

“I will not retire,” Wenger asserted. “Retiring is for young people. For old people, retirement is dying.”

Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Show all 11 1 /11 Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Joachim Löw Age: 58

Current club: German national team

Honours: Austrian Bundesliga, 2001/02

Fifa World Cup, 2014

Fifa Confederations Cup, 2017 Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Mikel Arteta Age: 35

Current club: Manchester City Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Brendan Rodgers Age: 44

Current club: Celtic

Honours: Championship playoffs

Scottish League Cup

Scottish Premiership Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Leonardo Jardim Age: 42

Current club: Monaco

Honours: Segunda Liga

Superleague Greece

Greek Cup

Ligue 1 Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Patrick Vieira Age: 40

Current club: New York City FC

Honours: None Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Diego Simeone Age: 47

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Honours: Argentine Primera Division x2 (Estudiantes de La Plata and River Plate)

La Liga

Copa del Rey

Spanish Supercup

Europa League

Uefa Super Cup Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Domenico Tedesco Age: 32

Current club: Schalke Bongarts/Getty Images Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Massimiliano Allegri Age: 49

Current club: Juventus

Honours: Serie C1 (Sassuolo)

Serie A x3 (AC Milan, 2x Juventus)

Italian Super Cup x 2 (AC Milan, Juventus)

Coppa Italia x 2 (Juventus) Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Thomas Tuchel Age: 44

Current club: Free agent

Honours: DFB-Pokal Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Luis Enrique Age: 47

Current club: Free agent

Honours: La Liga x2 Copa del Rey x3 Supercopa de Espana Champions League Super Cup Club World Cup Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Carlo Ancelotti Age: 58

Current club: Free agent Intertoto Cup (Juventus) Serie A (AC Milan) Coppa Italia (Ac Milan) Supercoppa Italiana (AC Milan) Champions League x3 (AC Milan x2, Real Madrid) Super Cup x2 (AC Milan) Club World Cup (AC Milan) Premier League (Chelsea) FA Cup (Chelsea) Ligue 1 (Paris Saint-Germain) Copa del Rey (Real Madrid) Bundesliga (Bayern Munich) DFL Supercup x2 (Bayern Munich) Bongarts/Getty Images

There is clearly still a fire about Wenger, too, even if there has been so much doubt about his managerial approach this season.

“Yes, of course I'm as hungry,” he said. “I carry a bit more pressure on my shoulders than 20 years ago but the hunger is exactly the same. When you see what the club was and what it is today – when I arrived we were 70 employees, we are 700 today. One share was £400, it £18,000 today. And I'll tell you straight away, I don't have any shares.”

Asked whether he is more fearful of defeat these days because of the potential crowd reaction, Wenger rejected that.

“Fear, no. My next game is about hope and desire, I hate defeat.

“I hate defeat. But I can understand the fans that are unhappy with every defeat but the only way to have victory is to stick together with the fans and give absolutely everything until the end of the season, that's all we can do.”

Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday, hoping to end what has been the worst run of Wenger’s career at Arsenal after four league defeats in five, as the club drifts away from the top four spots. You could say it’s a match they dare not afford to lose, but the manager claimed it is no different from any other game.

“I've been in this job for 34 years and I've never met somebody who told me 'you can afford to lose on Sunday'. You can never afford to lose and you're never in that mode, even if it's a pre-season friendly. In your mind you can never afford to lose, you're always very focused on winning the next game.”

Wenger famously has few interests outside the game beyond current affairs, and spends much of his time watching matches from all over the world.

Wenger is facing increased calls to leave the club (Getty)

“Yes, I watch every football game. I find it interesting. International games are less interesting but I did see one good game, Spain against France.”

Asked does he regret not having other pursuits like Sir Alex Ferguson and his horse-racing, Wenger laughed again.