Arsene Wenger insists that waiting until the spring before deciding on his future is not a problem for Arsenal.

Last time around the boss waited until the Gunners had secured success in the FA Cup in May 2014 – a matter of weeks before his last contract was due to end – before committing to a new deal. He maintains that he’s happy to do the same again this time around.

Asked ahead of the visit of West Bromwich Albion if the board were happy to wait for his decision, Wenger replied:

“Yes. I always said that I will judge where I stand in spring and make my decisions then.

“And the club is free as well. It’s not because I am here a long time that I have any rights. We are both in the same boat.”

On whether his decision to bide his time could affect Arsenal’s planning both on and off the pitch, he added: “No. I don’t think so.

“There are plenty of managers who arrived at the end of their contract. It happened to me before.

“I signed sometimes in March, April for longer contracts. So I don’t think it’s a problem.

“I have worked everywhere I have been until the last day of my contract with total commitment. That’s why maybe I can go back everywhere I was, because people respect that.”

There’s nothing really new here from the boss. We’ve known for quite a while that he has no intention of making a decision until later in the season.

That questions over his future have made headlines in the aftermath of two bad results was utterly predictable. If there is a difference this time around it’s that a potential replacement, Ralph Hasenhüttl, has spoken openly about being approached by Gunners officials.

In the circumstance, it’s absolutely vital that the club starts succession planning, just in case the unexpected happens and Wenger does call time on his 20 years at the club.