Wenger's dramatic private date with Dein

• omgukilledkenny

  29 Jul 07, 17:07

  
  
  THIS is the dramatic moment Arsene Wenger and David Dein are caught leaving a private meeting at a north London restaurant.
  
  Arsenal boss Wenger and sacked vice-chairman Dein discussed the club's future during a two-hour dinner at The Rotisserie in Whetstone on Thursday.
  
  An eyewitness revealed: "They spent much of the time talking about Arsenal. It was definitely business."
  
  The news will stun Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood and the board of directors, who are desperate for Wenger to sign a new contract after they savagely booted Dein out of the club in April.
  
  Dein was dumped because of his support for American billionaire Stan Kroenke's takeover plans-and his departure has sparked intense speculation over Wenger's future.
  
  Our eyewitness added: "Wenger arrived at the restaurant at 7.30pm and asked for a table for two in the back corner.
  
  "Within 15 minutes Dein joined him. Wenger didn't get up. Dein smiled but was not over-friendly and sat opposite the Frenchman.
  
  "The conversation was intense, Dein mentioned ex-skipper Thierry Henry a couple of times and I heard words like ‘plans' and ‘the way forward'."
  
  It's the first time Wenger has been seen with Dein since the former vice-chairman's acrimonious departure from the Emirates Stadium on April 18.
  
  It ended Dein's 24-year association with the Gunners. But since then the 64-year-old has been linked in a dramatic return as part of a possible takeover bid from either Kroenke or Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
  
  Former FA vice-chairman Dein has turned down THREE offers from other Premiership clubs in the hope of a triumphant return to Arsenal.
  
  Wenger and Dein both had coffee before leaving the restaurant together at 9.30pm.
  
  When our photographer wished Dein good luck for next season, he replied: "Thank you, we're going to need it!"
  
  Arsenal director and biggest shareholder Danny Fiszman added: "Arsene is totally free to meet who he wants. I am not saying anything more."
  
  Dein persuaded Wenger to join Arsenal from Japanese club Grampus Eight in 1996.
• omgukilledkenny

  30 Jul 07, 03:37

  Wenger dampens Kroenke theory
  
  Arsene Wenger maintains his close friendship with David Dein plays no part in the role he holds as manager at Arsenal.
  
  Arsene Wenger maintains his close friendship with David Dein plays no part in the role he holds as manager at Arsenal.
  
  The Gunners boss found himself fielding questions about off-the-field matters following this afternoon's conclusion of the Emirates Cup, which finished with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan for the hosts to claim the trophy.
  
  Wenger was photographed with former Arsenal vice-chairman Dein - who left the club last season following "irreconcilable differences" with the board - after the pair had dinner together in London last week"
  
  The Frenchman, however, insisted it was "simply" a meeting between two friends and that topics exchanged certainly did not include a potential buy-out of the club by American shareholder Stan Kroenke.
  
  "The story is as simple as ever," Wenger insisted.
  
  "I've been friends with David Dein before I was at Arsenal. I was friends with him during his stay here and I'm still friends since he's departed. It's as simple as that.
  
  "I said the other day, I know I have a responsibility here and I want to stand up for it.
  
  "My friendship with David is something different.
  
  "For a long period it was mixed with the life of the club, but it is no longer mixed with that."
  
  Wenger maintained: "We didn't discuss the future at Arsenal.
  
  "He still asked me how it was going at Arsenal, how is the team going? I have no influence in the shareholders.
  
  "I've never been a shareholder. I'm an employee who is responsible for the technical side of the club."