Arsène Wenger has accepted the questions about his future last season were a distraction, and it was a mistake from him not to shut it down.

Before and after every match last season, Wenger would hold a press conference where at least one or two people would ask him whether he had made a decision over his future.

Arsenal went through one of the worst periods of forms in recent years at the same time, and it was hard not to see the two events as being related.

At the time, Wenger, hoping to put the focus back on the football, tried to deflect the questions, claimed it wasn’t an issue and it would be resolved later.

But now, looking back, he has accepted this wasn’t the right way to deal with it, telling the Arsenal website: “It was a bit eternal, a repetition of the press conferences about that. Maybe I made a mistake and allowed that to happen because I didn’t commit early enough.”

Arsenal started and ended the season very well but were awful in the middle, and this is something that Wenger is hoping the team can put behind them. He’s also hoping the stability of his new two-year extension will help with that, saying:

“I believe everyone is focused on the new season and giving absolutely the best. I believe it is important that we analyse well what happened to us, and where we can improve – and then transfer the optimistic final part of the season into the new campaign and start in a very strong way.”