Arsenal fans will continue to be anxious with every article that comes out about their inspirational captain Robin van Persie, but according to at least one top journalist the Dutchman will sign an extension.

This morning on the Sunday supplement, a TV show on Sky Sports Paul Smith, a journalist with The Sunday Mirror stated quite categorically that van Persie will sign a new contract.

Why is this significant? Because Paul Smith’s paper are, just like their sister paper The Mirror, kings of the gossip columns, it makes no sense for them to state that van Persie will sign a new contract unless there is a very strong indication that he will do so, they get far more mileage in their gossip columns if they can continue to link van Persie with a whole host of clubs.

Last night The Mirror did run an article linking van Persie with Real Madrid, but that is now old news, Paul Smith speaking live this morning is far more up to date and the one thing about the journalists invited on to The Sunday Supplement is that they will not open themselves up to ridicule on national TV and especially not in front of their peers.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis insists that Arsene Wenger remains committed to the club for the 'long-term'.

The Frenchman recently suggested that he would contemplate his future at the end of the season, and that he would now start thinking about the short-term future of the club.

But Gazidis insists that he has had conversations with Wenger about squad plans up to 2017.

"Arsene's only 62 and in great shape and I don't sense any weakening of his desire," Gazidis told the Sunday Telegraph.

"Nobody knows what the future holds but it is entirely possible that he will be with the club for a long time to come."

Speaking about his recent quotes, Gazidis added: "I read that but the conversation I had with him in Athens was talking about squad planning for 2016-17.

"I know what he meant by talking about the short term. He wants to be successful and that's important.

"At the same time he cares about this club so deeply, he's thinking about things that will only impact the club after he has gone.

"That is very unusual - not unique - but very unusual. Football is a very volatile world.

"One of the great advantages we have through our continuity - and Manchester United have this in Sir Alex Ferguson - is that we have a manager who actually puts the club above his own self-interest.

"It is a privilege to work with Arsene. He is an extraordinary individual with an unbelievable commitment to the club."
Future role

Gazidis also insists there have been no discussions about whether Wenger would move 'upstairs' at the club when he felt his time as a coach was over.

"That transition, whenever it happens, will be very significant for the club. I can't predict exactly how. It certainly isn't happening in the foreseeable future," he said.

"You'll always have significant challenges when a giant like Arsene does decide to move on to something new. The strength of Arsene and the club is that the thought process is seamless.

"A lot of discussions are about things that will be in place after he's gone. His departure wouldn't invalidate that. His knowledge and vision is embedded into the club. It is hard-wired into us."