• Arsenal manager talks of possibility once contract up at London club • Frenchman had previously admitted he could take up role with England

Arsène Wenger has spoken of the possibility of a move into international football and being involved at the 2022 World Cup. The Arsenal manager, who according to some reports was the Football Association’s first choice for the England manager’s post after the departure of Roy Hodgson in 2016, has 18 months to run on his contract at the Emirates but says the idea of managing at a World Cup is a tempting prospect.

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When asked about the possibility of moving into international management, Wenger told beIN Sports: “Maybe, yes, I will do it at some stage but until now I like to be involved every day in the life of a club because the real test is there. Four or five weeks is a different experience, it’s more concentrated, but I believe the real experience of managing a team is on a daily basis.

“But I will not always have the physical strength to do that so maybe I will move into [international coaching]. It’s a fact my life is linked with football, in what way will be linked to my physical state.”

The Frenchman added: “I will [always] be in football. I don’t know [if] as a director, as a manager – as long as possible as a manager. But one day that will stop. But I will stay in football, of course.” Asked whether he could be on the bench at the World Cup in Qatar, he said: “Maybe, you never know.”

beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) EXCLUSIVE: Wenger reveals plans for life after @Arsenal... he wants to coach at the @FIFAWorldCup! #WorldCup #Qatar2022 #AFC pic.twitter.com/QgQW5owTEj

Wenger, who has also been linked with the France national team, commented on the speculation about his taking the England post last year when he said: “My priority is to do well here [at Arsenal]. If I am free one day why not, but at the moment my focus is on my job.”

Petr Cech, meanwhile, has dismissed suggestions that Arsenal should measure their season on whether they finish above Tottenham as they prepare for Saturday’s north London derby.

“There is always one odd year where things can change, but the most important thing for us is competing against the other teams for the Premier League title and for the glory,” the goalkeeper told Sky Sports. “We are not competing against Tottenham Hotspur. Two years ago when we finished above them we were disappointed because we didn’t win the title [and Leicester did]. Our target is to win the title and be successful during the season, not necessarily looking at what Tottenham are doing.”

Despite their progress under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have failed to win a trophy since the League Cup in 2008 and Cech believes only silverware will satisfy the Tottenham supporters. “There was always something missing. They’ve been there in the last few years so now I think they have to make sure they win something to show the progression.”