Gunners owner 'high on' Wenger

Cape Town - American businessman Stan Kroenke has said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would be "very hard" to replace.

Kroenke referenced the changes at Manchester United after Alex Ferguson retired as manager while discussing what might happen with Arsenal when Wenger eventually departs.

"You see it (at United), you bring up a comment like that," Kroenke said after Arsenal's annual general meeting.

"It's very hard. He's a great manager."

Wenger has not said whether he will re-sign with the Gunners after his current contract ends at the end of this season.

United have had three managers in the three years since Ferguson departed.

"He's been a wonderful influence on the club," Kroenke said of Wenger.

"We are all very high on Arsene."

"We are (joint) top of the table right now," he said.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are separated by goal difference at the top.

"We will sit down and discuss the future at the appropriate time," Arsenal chairperson Chips Keswick said at the meeting.