Wenger: I want him to stay 200 per cent

Manager Arsène Wenger says that he wants his trusted lieutenant Pat Rice to stay '200 per cent'.

Rice has been at Arsenal since joining as a 15-year-old apprentice more than 40 years ago, and went on to make 528 appearances for the club, winning the Double in 1971 and lifting the FA Cup as captain in 1979.

There has been speculation on Rice's future past this year, with Rice failing to confirm if he will indeed continue beyond this season.

Wenger said: "There have been talks about that. He will be at the end of his contract at the end of the season. He will not go anywhere else. So will he stay or stop? I don't know.

"I hope he will continue. Yes [it is Pat's decision]. In this case I am the Club and I want him to continue. I want to persuade him.

"He wants to be sure he can be completely 100 per cent committed. He's not a guy who does half or thinks half. He gives absolutely everything. He must think as well [about his age]... in fact he's my age!

"He has been vitally important because when I arrived here he was a man of the Club. He's a man who knows the British culture, and he's a winner. He is a guy who is ready to give his life to win and you want to be surrounded with people like that.

"You can trust him, he is reliable, he has fantastic football knowledge and he never talks [outside the Club]. That is vital. Some people are confused, they think it is more important to talk outside.

"From my side, there's no hesitation. I want him 200 per cent to continue.

"It's only a desire from me. I know how valuable he is for the Club and for me, and I want him to go on.

"At the moment there's more chance he remains at the Club than he leaves. There's a 90 per cent chance that he will go on.

"It's important to keep him, as important as keeping a big player. But there's a 90 per cent chance that he'll stay."

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