Arsene Wenger responds to England speculation: I am completely focused on Arsenal…until the end of the season

Arsene Wenger insists he remains fully committed to his role as Arsenal boss until the end of the season, amid reports linking him with the England job.

The Football Association are thought to be planning an approach for the Frenchman to take over as the Three Lions head coach following the shock departure of Sam Allardyce this week.

The 66-year-old’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires at the end of the season, fuelling speculation he could finally move on from the Gunners and take over at Wembley.

Wenger has come under pressure to leave the club in recent reasons following successive failures to add to their Premier League title haul, and with the Gunners impressing in the early stages of this season, it would suit all parties if he left on a high this summer after 20 years in north London.

Things start to be coming together for Arsenal this term, with the Premier League side showing their class by easing to victory over FC Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Wenger insisted after the game that the Gunners remain his priority, following suggestions he could be appointed by the FA sooner rather than later, but he refused to close the door on a possible move by admitting he will review his future at the end of the campaign.

"I was focused on the game tonight so I didn't see too much about it. It was a huge surprise what happened to Sam Allardyce," he said.

"Who could have predicted that 48 hours ago? Nobody. The game's always full of surprises. My priority has always been this club and until the end of this season, I'm here. I'm completely focused on that.

"I've said many times that my priority has always been Arsenal Football Club and I have to assess how well I do until the end of the season."

Theo Walcott starred with both goals against Basel at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal secured a deserved win to collect their first three points in Group A.

The hosts bossed the game and should have scored plenty more but a mixture of profligacy and a good performance from Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik kept the result respectable for the Swiss Super League champions.

Gareth Southgate will step up from the under-21s to take charge of England for their next four games and Wenger has said it will be difficult for the former
Middlesbrough boss to overlook Walcott when he selects his first squad at the weekend.

"The best recommendation is his performances," Wenger said of Walcott's international chances.

"It's difficult to ignore him. If you take the best English players and you see him playing the way he did tonight, it's difficult to ignore him. I will leave that with Gareth Southgate."