'Wenger won't be off-ski'

Arsenal today dismissed speculation linking Arsene Wenger with Chelsea.

Reports yesterday suggested the Arsenal manager was top of Roman Abramovich's list to replace Claudio Ranieri in the summer following more conjecture over the Chelsea manager's future. The two clubs meet in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

The Russian billionaire will be aware that Wenger's contract runs out at the end of next season and that Arsenal equalled an English record for the best opening to a season of 29 undefeated matches with their victory against Bolton on Saturday.

But when it was put to him that Chelsea might want their manager, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: "Who wouldn't? It is up to him but I cannot believe he would consider it.

"We haven't started new contract talks yet because he is pre-occupied. They will take place at the end of the season. But I know he is excited about the squad we have and he is excited about the stadium project. I cannot imagine anyone else leading the team out when the new stadium opens in August 2006.

"I am sure he is very happy here. He is well-paid and allowed to do what he wants. The board at Arsenal have never said 'no' to him. Everything he suggests is eminently sensible."

Ranieri's future has been uncertain ever since Abramovich bought Chelsea last summer, and developments in the last few weeks appear to have sealed his fate.

In a series of interviews this weekend, chief executive Peter Kenyon expressed the club's concern over the team's style of play and hinted at disquiet over Ranieri's habit of rotating his squad on a regular basis.