Arsenal line up Wenger replacement

Arsenal have lined up a potential replacement for manager Arsene Wenger in case contract talks with the Frenchman fail before the end of his current deal, according to the Daily Star. The club have reportedly earmarked Juventus legend Antonio Conte as the man to lead the club forward should Wenger decide to end his 17-year-spell as Gunners boss. Wenger put talks regarding a new contract at the Emirates on hold over the summer, and has since stated he will decide whether he feels he deserves to lead the club beyond 2014. “We are in no hurry,” said Wenger. “We are in September and my contract finishes in June, there is a long way to go. “There is no need to plan (any talks). I have said many times I want to do well with this club and in the end I will sit down and think ‘how well have I done with the team I have had?’ That has to be sufficient for me to decide yes or no. “One of the main judgments you can have about a manager is how well he does with his team.” The delay in opening talks has got people speculating however, and reports in Italy suggest the Gunners will turn to Conte if Wenger decides to call it a day. The Italian has been in charge of Juventus since 2011, and is thought he is open to a move to the Premier League in the near future.