Wenger to Pick Dein Replacement

Arsene Wenger last night ended the growing doubts about his future at Arsenal by revealing that the club will soon appoint a director of football who will be his personal choice. The move will cement the Frenchman's huge influence at the Emirates Stadium and hugely increase the chances of him extending his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

Club and manager have been reeling after a tumultuous week at Arsenal that saw vice-chairman David Dein, a close friend of Wenger, kicked out due to 'irreconcilable differences' about a possible takeover of Arsenal by American sports entrepreneur Stan Kroenke.

Speaking after his team's 2-2 draw with Spurs at White Hart Lane, Wenger was asked about the possible appointment of a director of football - a position the club have never had - to undertake duties previously done by Dein. 'It will happen, but at the moment I haven't given it any thought,' he replied, before adding: 'It will be my choice.'

Wenger's key role in selecting the man to occupy the new role opens up the intriguing possibility that former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier or Damien Commoli, currently sporting director at Spurs, could be approached to fill the post. Any move for Commoli, who used to be Arsenal's chief scout in France, would be fiercely resisted by Spurs, who lost Commoli's predecessor, Frank Arnesen, to Chelsea in controversial circumstances in 2005.

Dein looks certain to lose his two influential positions within the Football Association - on its ruling Council and, more significantly, on its international committee - because he has lost his role at Arsenal.

Kroenke, clearly unperturbed by Dein's sacking, signalled his determination to become a key player at Arsenal by increasing his stake from 9.9 per cent to 12 per cent at the end of last week, just after Dein had been brutally dismissed after 24 years.