Vermaelen keen for Wenger to commit to Gunners

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has urged his manager Arsene Wenger to sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium, the Mail Online understands.

The Gunners boss, who recently oversaw his 1000th match in charge of the North London club, is yet to put pen to paper on their offer of a new deal despite enjoying one of the most successful seasons in recent years.

Despite their 6-0 defeat to Chelsea in that landmark thousandth match all but ending their hopes of clinching a first league title in a decade, they are odds on favourites to end their near nine year trophy drought in the FA Cup, in which they face holders Wigan Athletic at Wembley a week on Saturday.

Their last piece of silverware came in the cup back in 2005, when they beat Manchester United on penalties and they can be backed at 4/9 to lift the trophy for a joint-record eleventh time in May.