Ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson believes that under-pressure manager Arsene Wenger will be staying put at the Emirates Stadium beyond the end of the current campaign.

Following another disappointing season for Arsenal, Wenger has come under intense pressure to leave his post as manager of the club at the end of season and with his contract set to expire, many believe that the Frenchman's time in North London may finally be up.

However, Merson does not think that Wenger will be leaving anytime soon and added that the club's hierarchy desperately want the 67-year-old to stay put as he seems to take all the blame for their shortcomings at the boardroom level.

He told Sky Sports: "I think he'll want to stay, that's my personal opinion.

"I think he probably will be staying because he would have said he will be leaving otherwise. I think he's waiting for a big win to turn around and announce he's staying.

"Otherwise, the other possibility is that his agent is sorting out something with another club and he is biding his time so he's not left without a job.

"I think he should go. I think Arsenal are a long way off turning this around and being a force next season, I just don't see it at all. They've fallen so far behind and I think the board might want to keep him because they've got so much to sort out and he takes all the blame for them.

"If they finished outside the top four it would be a nightmare but it might give him the best chance of winning the Premier League, just look at Chelsea and how well they've done without Champions League football.

"They've got a big game next week against Manchester City and suddenly if you they win that a lot changes, but I think it will be a struggle to make the top four."