Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says manager Arsene Wenger will when the time is right to finish up with the North London club.
The 66-year-old Frenchman is contracted until next summer and while there are no long-term plans for him to stay on, he could still be in charge after the 2016/17 season if he feels things are heading in the right direction.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Gazidis said that Wenger is well aware his time in management is coming to an end but suggests there is some fight left in him yet.
"He's in his mid-sixties, it's natural to think about when his time here might come to an end, but the truth is nobody knows," said Gazidis.
"He is in fantastic shape. He is deeply engaged and excited. One of the biggest challenges we will face is the transition, whenever it happens, but that is not something we are going to be facing imminently. Obviously, he is going to be managing us next year and we are planning and making many decisions for the long term.
"The reality is we wouldn't leave things until the last minute. I'm comfortable both that if Arsene is going to extend we will know that and if, whenever that is, he is going to come to an end, that he will give us the time that we need to prepare for that transition. The relationship with Arsene is very deep. It will be done behind closed doors and we will have our transition plans well worked out.
"He has always put the long-term health of the club first. He wants to hand over a football club, whenever that it is, that is in great shape. He views that as a massively important part of his legacy. But we are just not in that mode.
"I know Arsene wouldn't stay on if he thought the club wasn't heading in a good direction and thought he wouldn't be able to deliver what the fans want."
