ARSENE WENGER agreed to stay at Arsenal until 2014 - then hit out at the Premier League's 'joke' rules. Gunners boss Wenger will sign a new three-year deal worth almost £13million. And the Frenchman, who persuaded skipper Cesc Fabregas not to move to Barcelona, confirmed: "It is only a question of timing when I sign. "I have to show I believe in this team by showing my own commitment." But Wenger, 60, does not feel as committed about the Premier League's controversial decision to restrict squads to 25 players. He blasted: "The new rules are a disaster. "Ridiculous, an absolute joke that is paralysing the market." The rules are aimed at helping England's national team by restricting the number of foreign players in the Premier League - with only 17 overseas stars allowed in the squad.
And ahead of tomorrow's trip to Liverpool, Wenger - who has been accused of creating a foreign legion at the Emirates - rapped: "From 1966 to 1996, there were hardly any foreign players here but this country still won absolutely nothing. So how has it changed? "The Premier League has to decide if they are here to prepare the English national team. If so, they have to kick everyone out. Or are they here to give us the best league in the world? "The homegrown rule is all artificial, it is nothing to do with quality. "The new rules on squads are a disaster for this country. It's ridiculous. "It is absolutely a joke. More new rules will be created in the coming years for homegrown players ... it's all rubbish. "Instead of asking how we can make the best league in the world better, they have gone to how can we make it smaller?
"Do you think you will remain the best league in the world? No chance, you have no chance!"
Wenger insists he is SUPPORTING England. He explained: "If I didn't care, I wouldn't speak about it. But you have something here that the whole world watches. "To see that some people are only concerned with putting the quality down is sad. "I'd be happy if England won the World Cup. I'd jump to the rafters. "I'm supporting them in their bid for 2018 when other countries have asked me to support them. "And I'm doing it for nothing because I want England to be successful. "But they've decided the wrong thing here with the new Premier League rules."