Wenger: I'll stay for now and we'll move on

David Dein's shock departure on Wednesday night has clearly upset Wenger who was brought to Highbury by the former vice-chairman in 1996.

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The Arsenal boss was visibly upset as he spoke for the first time in public about the dramatic events of the week. He is contracted to the club until the end of next season but would not offer any reassurances to fans he would stay beyond that.

He said: "I am committed to the club. I have a contract until 2008 and if this hasn't happened no one would be asking me about it. I always respect my contract and try to give my best while I'm here.

"I have one and a half years left and do not want to speak about beyond that period. It's more important to focus on the short term and leave that until the end of the season. It's important we continue to play at our best and I am committed to do that."

Arsenal travel to Tottenham for the nor th London derby t omor row lunchtime and Wenger stressed it is now important to start concentrating on football again following Dein's departure.

He added: "We have lost a man of class, intelligence and competence who has contributed hugely to the success and development of the club and I think, as well, for English football.

"It is of course a disappointment and a big loss because David had always had in his heart the best interests of the club.

"I feel very sad but we have to be faithful to what we have built together. It is important in my mind we focus on the future. We've built the team together and started from scratch again with many young players I want to develop this team and go as high as we can together.

"We have to show we have the mental strength to deal with any kind of adversity that we come across."

American tycoon Stan Kroenke will now remain in the background for Wenger for the rest of the season and into the summer but chairman Peter Hill-Wood made it clear today he did not want any foreign interference.

In an amazing attack he claimed Kroenke, who has an 11 per cent shareholding, knows "sweet FA about our football" and insisted "we don't want his sort" at the club.

Old Etonian Hill-Wood said: "Call me old fashioned, but we don't need his money and we don't want his sort. To sell for someone to use Arsenal as a lucrative toy to make money is completely unthinkable. I don't know for certain if Kroenke will mount a hostile takeover, but we shall resist it with all our might."

Hill-Wood insists any takeover would not make a significant difference to the amount of money Wenger would have to spend.

He added: "We are all being seduced that the Americans will ride into town with pots of cash for new players. It simply isn't the case.

"He would have to spend a fortune to buy the club, he has already spent millions acquiring shares, so who thinks he is then going to spend fortunes on players?

"Take it from me, he won't be doing that."