Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal will never sacrifice their footballing principles, declaring "it is the best way to win".The Gunners superb passing game looked set to sweep all before them as Wenger's youthful side opened up the season in blistering form to top the Premier League and smash seven past Sparta Prague in the Champions League in October.

However, in the end Arsenal were unable to sustain their drive for honours, as the loss of key men to injury and the inability to kill teams off when in control came back to haunt them.

Nevertheless, they still played eventual title winners Manchester United off the park during the first half at Old Trafford in April before eventually losing 2-1 while Liverpool were left chasing the ball at the start of their Champions League quarter-final, second leg at Anfield.

Wenger insists such examples show just why the Gunners must stay true to their footballing ethos.

"We play like that because we feel it is the best way to win. It is the most suitable way for us to play with our players," Wenger said.

"If I asked our defenders to just kick the ball forwards, it would not work.

"To play with the ball the way we do is the best way to be efficient with the players we have."

Despite failing to last the course, Wenger firmly believes his men can take great credit from their efforts over the past nine months.

"There are only four teams in Europe who have qualified for the Champions League every year in the last 10 years and we are among those four. That means we have shown remarkable consistency," said Wenger, whose men last won the title in their unbeaten campaign of 2003/2004.

"What we want to be again is the best in this country and the best in Europe.

"I am convinced we are very, very close.

"That is why my purpose is to keep the team together and show I was right next year."

Wenger's last trophy was the FA Cup in 2005 and he will have to endure watching rivals United and Chelsea battle it out for European club football's greatest prize in Moscow on Wednesday night.

However, the 58-year-old's hunger for success burns as bright as ever and he cannot wait for the competition to start all over again.

"What drives me on is to win and if I had a choice, I would say cancel the European Championships and the holiday, and start again next season on Monday," Wenger added.

"I would not like a break, to go to the beach, I would like next week to start a new championship."

Just which squad Wenger will be working with when the Gunners return for pre-season training remains to be seen.

Mathieu Flamini has joined AC Milan on a free transfer while the future of Belarus winger Alexander Hleb - a reported target for Inter - continues to be the subject of much speculation.

Veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has played his last game with Arsenal and the German international could return to the Bundesliga with Stuttgart.

Wenger has made it clear he wants to bring in a couple of experienced talents to Emirates Stadium this summer.

Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani is the latest foreign import linked with the Gunners, along with £13million-rated Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri, Sporting Lisbon's Miguel Veloso and Panama international defender Felipe Baloy, currently playing in Mexico with Monterey.

Interest in Stade Lavallois' France Under-17 international Francis Coquelin could be pursued after he was spotted by scout Gilles Grimandi and given a recent trial.

One player certainly central to Wenger's future plans is Cesc Fabregas.

The Spain international, 21, is understood to be close to agreeing a lucrative new deal

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