Arsenal denies Madrid claims on coach

English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal on Thursday described claims that Real Madrid had held talks with its manager Arsene Wenger as "completely untrue".

Madrid president Ramon Calderon suggested the club had spoken with Wenger after coach Fabio Capello was sacked.

A spokesperson for Arsenal told PA SportsTicker: "It is completely untrue. Arsene Wenger has not had talks with Real Madrid and is committed to Arsenal Football Club."

Madrid is set to appoint a new coach next week following the Italian's dismissal shortly after guiding the team to the Primera Liga title.

Calderon claimed on the club's official website - www.realmadrid.com - that Wenger was among the managers they had spoken to about replacing Capello.

Calderon said: "Once we decided that Capello would not continue, [Madrid sporting director Predrag] Mijatovic underwent talks with Bernd Schuster, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup and Wenger."

Wenger's future has been the subject of intense speculation since the departure of long-term boardroom friend David Dein and, more recently, star striker Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

But it is Schuster - currently with Getafe - who is in pole position.

"Schuster has told us he has solved his situation with Getafe," said Calderon. "I am not sure if on Monday he will be at Real Madrid. He has always been among the three or four coaches with whom we have spoken."

"It appears logical that he will be the next coach."