English Premier League side Arsenal have confirmed that Arsène Wenger will remain as manager of the club, after the Frenchman signed a new three-year deal today.

The new deal keeps Wenger at the Emirates Stadium until 2017 and comes a fortnight after Arsenal won the FA Cup after extra-time against Hull City, ending a nine-year trophy drought.

After the deal was announced, Wenger stated “The club has always shown faith in me and I’m very grateful for that. We have gone through fantastic periods and also periods where we have had to stick together. Every time when that togetherness was tested I got the right response.”

The Frenchman further said, “I want to stay and to continue to develop the team and the club. We are entering a very exciting period. We have a strong squad, financial stability and huge support around the world. We are all determined to bring more success to this club.”

Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke also expressed his delight at the new deal, adding that ”We are delighted with the FA Cup success which has added to his already outstanding record. Under his guidance we look forward to adding more trophies in future seasons.”

64 year old Wenger joined Arsenal late in 1996 from Japanese club Nagoya Grampus and won three Premier League and five FA Cup titles in his first nine years at the club, leading the club to an historic unbeaten finish in the 2003/04 league season.

The club have also qualified for the UEFA Champions League in each of the 17 seasons Wenger has been at the club, though winning Europe’s top club prize has eluded the club with the closest Arsenal has come to winning it being the 2006 final which was lost 2-1 to Barcelona.

And after winning the 2005 FA Cup, Arsenal endured nine successive seasons without a major title, a streak which brought his position as manager under question till the win in the same competition on May 17.