Arsene Wenger is more motivated than ever to make sure Arsenal return stronger from what he feels was the unluckiest campaign of his reign.The Gunners boss has his work cut out to reshape a team capable of challenging for a Premier League title after seeing Gilberto Silva, Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini all leave Emirates Stadium this summer.
However, fresh talent in the shape of Welsh teenager Aaron Ramsey and young French winger Samir Nasri have already arrived and there could yet be a move for Aston Villa's England international Gareth Barry, rated at £18million.
Wenger - who came to Highbury in September 2006 and transformed the club into the dominant force of English football - felt there were positives to take from the last campaign which started so brightly but then unravelled following a pivotal clash at St Andrews where striker Eduardo suffered an horrific broken leg.
Yet Wenger also feels such bad fortune - Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky were both also crocked at a crucial time while key moments in big games went against the Gunners - cannot strike twice.
Asked if last season was his unluckiest as Gunners chief, Wenger replied: "It was by far, with the decisions and injuries. At some stage you could not believe how bad it was.
"But you have to deal with that and have to use it as a platform to come back and be even stronger mentally."
Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "We were very close, we were in the race and next year we want to show we can win it.
"It is important you fight for the championship and to win it. All the other trophies are more of a consolation than anything else.
"The team is performing well, but the target of a top-level sportsman is to always improve and I believe we can be more clinical, we can score more with the chances we create.
"I will try to achieve my best to develop the players, to fight in every game. I am more motivated than ever to achieve that.
"For the rest, you have to accept that it will never be be good enough. People always want more - that is normal."
Arsenal open their pre-season campaign at Barnet on Saturday, where Wenger has named a youthful squad and is expected to give Ramsey his debut, before heading off to a training camp in Austria, when Euro 2008 winner Cesc Fabregas and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor - linked with a summer move away - are both expected to join up with the rest of the travelling party.
Some new faces could well be on board by the time the Gunners play a Champions League qualifier on August 12/13, but Wenger insists team building was not just a matter of opening the cheque book.
"Of course I am in a position where I can spend the money," he said.
"But every time we have done such a great job with the young players that you are concerned 'do we kill a young player or not by bringing another player in?'
"It is a very sensitive subject which is not specially linked with money."
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Comment 1 - 15 of 15
whats with the negative comments? arsenal is the best team, rock on arsenal!
those guys can still win, just need focus
and take the opportunity when they have as Man U
I think Arsenal will win more thing this year if they can hold on to it
they need to focus more on wining more game than drawing them dat will give more advan
Arsene Wenger is the man. Also, the new Arsenal shirts are hot. So many Gooner haters out there. Makes me sick.
I was rather dissapointed with the performance at Barnet. I hope the boys(especially Niklaus Bendtner) can just kick it up a gear or two... We ll need them to this season..
to all you arsenal fans your new jerseys suck.
Mr. Dansh21 how dumb you could be to believe in what ever @#$% you read in this site, if all the stories in this site is true than i guess there is no good manager or even football is a crappy business. I think only 10% of info is true and 30% is manipulated and remaining is just faky.
So just chill out, don't get serious wid da stuff in this site and enjoy the football.
And Mr. Dogg are refering to trophies or trophy b'cos Mr. Wenger has not won only CHL but he has won remaining everything. He is best Manager after Chapman Arsenal have got.
i always surprised by wenger's controversial talkings. sometimes he says that the club has no money to afford in the transfer markets. someother time he says that he has enough funds to spend on the transfer market. sometimes he accuses clubs that attentively participate in the transfer market. someother time he appreciates clubs that participate in the transfer market as being wealthy. wenger don't talk too much. do what is supposed from you now. we don't need to hear any reason at the end of the season. if you can't brought tropies next season, the club may lose players like cesc. i would rather go blind than to see cesc go away from arsenal. arsenal is my blood.
HE WIN NOTHING AND GET SACK FOR GOOD
he never wins big trophies?....
i like arsene's style but he never wins big trophies.
last trophy won was in 2005 with arsenal which they won the FA CUP
Winning goes beyond luck.I'm an ardent Arsenal Fan and i expect that a manager of Wengers Caliber should know what it takes to win the Major competitions.Injuries will happen.Arsenal have always had problems with depth recently,our boys are good,but you need additional quality and experience to reach the peak.If we dont buy at least 2 experienced players this summer,i will expect nothing from Mr Wenger next season.He should buy another right back NOW if he wants ebou to move to middle.
Eboue should sit on the bench if he cannot displace Sagna and that is when you get the best out of him.Wenger needs to work on the depth of the squad.DOTUN NIJA
Bringing new facew to Emirates is a welcome development by Arsenal Tecninical team. Gareth Barry for the midfield, Obafemi & Arshavin to strenghten the attack then Arsenal will conveniently challenge ManU & Chelsea for the top spot.
Arsene is always wenger.A careful spender.
Technical & Tactical talks by by main man - Wenger
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