Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reportedly told his backroom staff that he will not resign at the end of the season.
The 68-year-old signed a new two-year deal with the Gunners last summer, but calls for him to end his 22-year stay at the club have once again reached fever pitch following a run of four successive defeats across all competitions.
Sunday's 2-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion left Arsenal 13 points off the Champions League places and 33 behind leaders Manchester City, leading Wenger to concede defeat in the race to finish in the top four.
However, The Times reports that Wenger is still adamant that he is the right man for the job and is determined to see out the remainder of his contract before reviewing his future again in summer 2019.
Wenger has reportedly told his coaches that the club will have to sack him if they are to get rid of him before then, with the Frenchman hoping that the strength of his relationship with majority shareholder Stan Kroenke will keep him at the Emirates Stadium.
A number of key directors have begun to lose faith in Wenger, but would still prefer him to step down rather than take the decision to sack him.
Arsenal's next match comes on Thursday when they take on AC Milan in the Europa League - a competition which represents the most realistic chance of salvaging anything from their season.
Barney Corkhill
