Arsene Wenger reveals Pat Rice will stay at Arsenal for one more year

Arsene Wenger and Pat Rice

Related Links

Teams

Players

Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal’s assistant manager Pat Rice will remain at the club for at least one more season.

Rice’s contract is set to expire this summer, as a chronic knee injury was believed to have forced the 62-year-old into retirement.

Wenger maintains the potential loss of Rice would have a huge impact on the club and maintains his current right-hand man is set to stay at the Emirates.

“I think Pat Rice will continue for one more year. He has told me,” the Frenchman told reporters.

“It is important for me because he knows how I work. We have a good understanding. I am happy that he goes on for one more year.

“The day he stops will be a massive loss for the club.

“We will see, after one more year maybe he will say one more year again. We will have to prepare.”

However, after Goal.com had exclusively revealed Arsenal lined up former Charlton boss Phil Parkinson as a potential replacement, should Rice leave, Wenger responded to whether he thought about additions to his backroom staff: “Yes, we always need that and I am thinking about it as well.”

The Gunners host Aston Villa on Sunday still with much to play for as Manchester City threaten their grasp on automatic Champions League qualifcation.

Arsenal are in third place on 67 points, two ahead of Roberto Mancini’s side with two matches remaining this term.