LONDON -- Arsene Wenger says it should "not be a surprise" that he plans to see out the last year of his contract at Arsenal, despite increasing calls from fans for his resignation in recent weeks.

Wenger has been under major pressure in the last month as the Gunners fell behind in the Premier League title race and were eliminated from both the FA Cup and Champions League.

However, he has been given the backing of the Arsenal board and said in a TV interview during the international break that he has "no doubt" that he will still be at the club next season.

This is the 66-year-old's 20th season in charge of the Gunners and his current three-year deal runs through the end of next season.

"This club has values and one of the values is that we respect our contracts, and people who work for the club respect their contracts," Wenger said on Friday at his news conference ahead of Saturday's game against Watford. "So that should not be a surprise. I'm here for 19 years and I have always done that."

Wenger has rarely faced the level of criticism he was subjected to during the month before the international break, when fans, pundits and even former Arsenal players questioned if he still had what it takes to lead the club.

The Frenchman acknowledged that the past few weeks have been tough as his side's title chances have diminished.

"They have been very difficult," he said. "But again you focus on doing your best and performing. I think our last two games at Barcelona and at Everton were very positive, and that shows that the team responds very well even when we have a difficult period.

Arsene Wenger's current three-year deal with Arsenal runs through the end of next season.. Julian Finney/Getty Images

"And that is what it's about. Some teams sink, and some others respond. And we have responded in a very strong and efficient way."

Arsenal are still 11 points behind leaders Leicester and may have to win all eight of their remaining games to have any chance of lifting the Premier League trophy.

But Wenger is still hoping that Leicester and second-placed Tottenham may falter and that 79 points -- the maximum Arsenal can get -- could be enough to win the league.

"It could be, yes, but it depends as well on the results of Leicester," he said. "Nobody knows how they will respond in the last seven games. What is important is that we play our eight games with complete commitment and passion and see where we finish.

"We have more than one chance to win the league, but the target is to win the games of course. Let's start to be pragmatic and win the next one, and that's tomorrow."

Wenger also said the performances of Leicester's players during the international break, when Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez all shone for their national teams, highlighted the fact that it is not a fluke that Claudio Ranieri's team tops the standings.

"Everyone says Leicester is a team that has overachieved, but you see now that when all their international players go to play with their national teams, they are the best player on the national team," Wenger said. "That shows it is never a coincidence when a team does well. It is because they have good players."

The Arsenal boss also refused to be drawn on possible summer transfer moves, after being heavily linked with Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka over the past week.

"At the moment we start to analyse [transfer targets], work, and get little lists of names," Wenger said. "But I don't think it's the moment for us to come out with names."

Asked whether Xhaka is on that list, Wenger joked: "I will send you the list if you want!"