Robert Pires has stated that he wants to become sporting director at Arsenal and that Arsene Wenger is well aware of his ambitions.

Speaking in an interview with L’Equipe, Pires also explained when he thinks Wenger will leave Arsenal, saying that the Frenchman is waiting until he wins another title (although he recently said that Wenger would remain at Arsenal for as long as the board wanted him there).

The full interview is in the paid edition of L’Equipe, but some highlights from it include Pires saying, “My next step with Arsenal would be to become Sporting Director.

“That’s what I want and Arsene knows it.

“But what Arsene has done for me already, allowing me to train every day with the team, is unique in Europe. I’m very grateful.”

About Wenger leaving, Pires said Wenger’s ‘number 1 goal’ is to win the league, at which time Le Bob can imagine Wenger just deciding to go once it is secured.

“When he wins the league again. Then, I can see him say ‘I’m leaving’.

“At the start of every season, that’s his number one objective. The only time I’ve seen him truly emotional was when we were champions in 2004.

“When he lifted the trophy, I saw it touched him.

“The year we’re champions without losing a single match. I don’t know if he’ll ever say it but this is what he considers his biggest achievement.”

When pushed recently, Wenger did indeed admit that was his biggest achievement after initially saying that he preferred to look forward, hoping that his biggest was still to come.

A sporting director is generally associated with the signing of players and is a management position that Arsene Wenger currently undertakes himself at Arsenal at present.