- Arsene Wenger has responded to being put forward by fans as a potential candidate to return to Arsenal as chairman.
Lifelong fan Sir Chips Keswick - who turned 80 in February - has served in that role with the Gunners for seven years since replacing Peter Hill-Wood in 2013, but announced last month that he would be retiring after a total of 15 years on the board.
That departure leaves only Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke, Lord Harris and Ken Friar on Arsenal's board of directors amid suggestions that they will not be seeking to appoint a new figurehead.
That has not stopped supporters from offering their suggestions, with iconic ex-manager Wenger a popular choice in some quarters.
Indeed, former Arsenal stalwart Martin Keown has also called for his former boss to be added to the board at the Emirates, describing such an appointment as "something special" and a "perfect answer" for Kroenke while dismissing concerns that it may prove intimidating for current manager Mikel Arteta.
Wenger, now 70, spent a total of 22 years as Arsenal manager after first taking the reins in 1996, winning 17 trophies including three Premier League titles before finally stepping down in 2018.
The Frenchman joined governing body Fifa as their chief of global football development in November 2019 after being heavily linked with the manager's post at Bayern Munich and a return to the club with whom he will always be synonymous does not look to be forthcoming any time soon.
Asked about the chances of him succeeding Sir Chips during a recent appearance on beIN Sports' Keys & Gray Show after being suggested as a candidate by fans, Wenger simply replied: "The candidate says there is no candidate."
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