Wenger committed to Gunners

Wenger wants to stay at Highbury for at least two more seasons

Uefa Cup final: Kick-off 1945 BST Wednesday

Arsenal have arrived in Denmark for this week's Uefa Cup final with Galatasaray with manager Arsene Wenger pledging himself to the club.

The Frenchman has promised to stay with the club until his contract expires in 2002.

Arsenal will start as strong favourites despite the manner in which Galatasaray beat Leeds - a 4-2 aggregate win for Terim's side.

The Turkish club are the first from that country to appear in a European final.

When I sign a contract, it is not yes one day and no the next day

Arsene Wenger

The Gunners have fond memories of Copenhagen dating back to their 1994 Cup Winners Cup final triumph over Italian side Parma.

And the Istanbul club's Romanian playmaker Georghe Hagi believes the London side will provide a tougher test than Leeds.

"Arsenal are a more technical and experienced team with more experienced players. But they have the same style as Leeds and we hope to be more intelligent than they are," he said.

Pledge

As the Gunners flew out to Denmark, Wenger dismissed speculation about him leaving Highbury to coach a national squad.

"When I sign a contract, it is not yes one day and no the next day," he told soccer weekly France Football.

Galatsaray flew out of Istanbul airport on Monday

"I have a contract with Arsenal until the end of the 2002 season, and I will respect it."

Wenger has been linked with a return to Japan, where he previously coached Nagoya Grampus Eight.

He also said recently he would be interested in becoming Germany's head coach.

But the Frenchman assured Arsenal fans these were not short-term ambitions.

"I don't know what my career is going to be," he said.

"I refuse to start negotiations with anybody for two years."

Manninger blow

Arsenal reserve goalkeeper Alex Manninger has been ruled out of the match, handing veteran John Lukic the job as David Seaman's deputy.

The Turkish team trained in Copenhagen on Monday

Manninger went to hospital with a hand infection yesterday and has not travelled to Denmark.

Lukic, 39, has not appeared in the Highbury first team for three years but has plenty of experience from his time with the Gunners and at Leeds.

Winger Frederik Ljungberg still has a broken rib and Wenger said: "He will travel and practice tonight but I don't think he'll be on the team sheet."

Full-back Lee Dixon is also a "small doubt" after injuring his groin before the final league match of the season against Newcastle.

"He looked quite confident yesterday that he would make it," said Wenger.