Arsene Wenger remains focused on the job of moulding his Arsenal squad back into a title force again, despite continued speculation the Barclays Premiership club are set for a takeover by American tycoon Stan Kroenke.
Following the shock departure of his strongest ally, vice-chairman David Dein, from the board earlier this week, it was suggested the French coach was about to follow him out of Emirates Stadium in the summer.
However, Wenger - who still has 15 months left on his current contract - insisted he remained ever committed to the Arsenal cause and keeping the club 'stable'.
The involvement of the Kroenke Sports Enterprises group is understood to be the reason behind the split of Dein with the rest of the Arsenal board.
Dein - who still holds around 14% of shares - was in favour of the American taking on a major role at the club, while the other directors were against such a move.
The KSE group could yet mount a takeover bid for Arsenal; perhaps even through an alliance with Dein.
It has been confirmed their total stake in Arsenal is now 12.19%, following an announcement yesterday on the Alternative Plus Market Exchange - where the club's shares are listed.
That has increased marginally from 11.26%, originally obtained following the purchase of ITV's 9.9% stake and a subsequent smaller holding indirectly from director Danny Fiszman via JPMorgan Chase Bank.
Should, as speculated, Dein part company with his holdings to the KSE group as well, that would take the US-based company ever closer to the 30% threshold needed to launch a formal takeover bid for the club.
Despite current Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood insisting the board will resist any hostile American takeover 'with all their might', the latest developments only serve to add fuel to the flames that Kroenke will gain overall control eventually.
For now, though, Wenger remains determined to keep the club moving in the right direction on the pitch.
He said: 'I feel the team are developing well, but we have not shown great consistency.
'That will be needed next year, but we have shown great quality throughout patches in the season.
'Therefore, the target is to transform that quality into consistency and that is down to maturity as well.
'We can beat all these teams, I am confident of that.
'We have gone through a difficult period, but what I feel from this team, individually and mentally from the players, they have a fantastic spirit and I believe they have fantastic quality.
'They will be up for it from the first game next year and they might surprise everybody,' he continued.
