Arsene Wenger accepts Arsenal are about to embark upon a "decisive season" and admits he will have to rethink his strategy should the young Gunners fail to make an impact on the Barclays Premier League title race.
The French coach rejected the overtures of Real Madrid, who were reported to have made an offer worth around £6million a year, to "finish the job" he started back at Highbury more than a decade ago.
"I refused [Real Madrid] because I have built a young team and I have the feeling that I have not finished my job," Wenger told French radio station RMC.
He continued: "I am not denying it will be a decisive season. If we are not in the title race, we will have to build everything again."
While the Gunners could yet step up their interest in Bordeaux's Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh, but only should Emmanuel Adebayor leave, Wenger continues to talk about evolution and progression for his squad rather than a radical overhaul. It is, however, a policy which has so far failed to deliver a first Premier League trophy for the cabinet of the impressive 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium.
Nevertheless, reaching the Champions League final of 2006 should certainly not be underestimated. Indeed, but for some better fortune along with cooler heads in the games which mattered, both domestic and European silverware could have been safely locked away since.
Wenger, whose side finished fourth last term, reaching both the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, added: "People always expect more than the previous season, but I already put the pressure on myself."
While harbouring no intention of leaving his post just yet, Wenger, who turns 60 in October, accepts he cannot go on forever.
"I am near the end of my career, I won't be coach for another 10 years," reflected Wenger, who fended off some stern criticism from sections of the Gunners fans last season.
"I have been at the club for 12 years and I do not want to go on even one year too much."
Comment 1 - 16 of 16
O mg finally adebayor is gone!!!That all i wanted,we couldn't win anything because his selfishness.Players mostly depended on him hoping he's gonna do good;it's good he is gone so all players will believe they can do better despite he's gone.for real this time we are going something good.Hey not buying big players like what man.city has done doesn't mean we ain't gonna bite than.All we gotta do is to pray we don't have injures and that the prayers are on form, man they will fill the music
Truth about Rosicky is that he's a lot older than the age he's declared and that's why it's taking so long for his injury to heal. We should sell him for good money to some unwitting competitor and use the proceeds to buy a stable talented attacking midfielder to replace him. He's too much of an injury liability. What happens if he gets injured again? Another three years waiting for him to recover?
nO THANKS GUNNERSBOY WE DONT WANT DIRT LIKE THAT
Have to agree with most of the writers I hope the Boss sells that lazy lump Ade he is not good enough to wear the Gun on his chest Man u are buying plenty of driftwood wonder if i should send Old Alex a nudge?
sell off ade without immediate effect. he is too lazy and misses alot of chances;combine arshavine and RVP upfront, with walcott,fab,rosicky and nasri supporting then our attack will be machine
HOW MUCH MORE TIME DO YOU GIVE ROSICKY!!!!!!! HE HAS NOT PLAYED SINCE EARLY 08????????
get ade out and bring in hunter
BTW, Fabregas has reached his peak, he has not improved during last season. Because his shots are too weak compared to Gerrard, Lampard, Ballack etc he will never be among top 5 attacking midfielders in the world, despite his wonderful passing.
And RVP though good, is not a player to win major titles.
The players currently in the team that I see as Prem winners are: Eduardo, Walcott (if he improves his shooting and dribbling), Arshavin, Nasri and Toure. Not saying the best, just possible winners.
Players without winning mentality (my subjective opinion): Adebayor, Van Persie, Diaby, Eboue, Song, Clichy.
We just need a clinical finisher like Huntelaar or Dzeko and a defensive midfielder like Marcos Senna (too old though), Essien, Yaya Toure, Xabi Alonso etc...
Another point to mention:
Why are english refs so against Arsenal and Chelsea?
I'm from abroad, but last 2 seasons I can follow most games live. During these 2 seasons most favorable decisions have gone either to Manc.United or Liverpool and many more unfavorable to Chelsea and Arsenal.
1 season ok, but now it seems too much of a coincidence...
Is it because both have most black players? Or do Liverpool and ManU have a stronger upperhand with refs?
I as many true Arsenal fans an quietly confident that the coming season will be good. In RVP and Eduardo we have quality. Mr Wenger must be able to see the short comings of the dynamic duo Bentner and Adebayor. We need players who are commited. I also think we will see a couple more quality signings before it all starts again. Rosiky should be back, Diabi is getting better and Nasri and Asravin will be rareing to go.
Get behind the, COME ON YOU GOOOOONERS
Prof Wenger should, must and will stay with Arsenal, the club he trully loves, till the day of retirement from bootball coaching. No matter what critics say about Wenger, we have had our glory days because of him and a lot more in the future. Prof Wenger may not be always perfect, but he is the best and only coach for us. Long live Wenger.
Comment 1 said everything and i agree strongly. I wanna see a line of real attacking force with Eduardo nd RVP up front with Rosicky, Fab, Walcott, Nasri....
ENough ofof Adebayor. He's never gonna be a match winner when we need a positive influence. He's got a bad first touch, is never a fast... and most of all as what comment 1 says... he slows play up front all the time. Henry would have taken whoevers in his way. The difference between Ade and Henry is a huge class gap. Ade will never reach that height.
Eduardo on the other hand is never shy in-front of goal. He's straight to the point and decisive. We all seen it....and you all know it. He's a different player from Henry but he has his own style that i strongly believe is special for seasons to come.
Im a True Gunner but in my eyes adebayor is just lazy, he doesn't deserve to play for a team as great as arsenal if hes not gonna put the effort in
Wenger can do it and i believe
well done arsene.i am arsenal no 1 fan.this new season do very best to win at least one cup.maximum all cup in the world.go gunner....arsenal half life.....
you can not identify a good player and not sign him because adebayor is not going anywhere. later when adebayor has gone, he would have been taken by another team and to buy him would cost a fortune. look at ribery, benzema, and so many others. buy them when they are cheap and sell them expensive
Most genuine fans are 100% behind Arsene as are the team. It is true loyalty from him over the past 12 years and ok we have not won a trophy in the last few years we are still a team which most fans enjoy watching the way they play. We have a few weak spots and these need to be filled. ie defence and a change up front. We have to shoot more often than we do at present and get defences to be on there back feet whilst we are attacking them. Thats why Ade is not suited to us anymore. He slows the whole attack down , which makes it harder for the other forwards to get their shots in sooner. Arshavin is showing what can be done and who knows, perhaps Rasicky will be back 100% fit and he with Arshavin,Eduardo and RVP, we will be more positive. Not a lot to ask for really is it.
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