Wenger ready for 'decisive season'

Arsene Wenger is ready to rethink his whole strategy at Arsenal if they once again fail to launch a Premier League title challenge this season.

Wenger: Wants to finish job at Emirates
Wenger: Wants to finish job at Emirates

The French coach earlier this summer 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.

Arsenal, though, have so far made only one major move in the summer transfer market, bringing in Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen, 23, from Ajax.

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 under-estimated. 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, though, remains determined Arsenal will deliver come May 2010.

"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.

"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."

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."

After failing to lure Wenger to the Bernabeu, Real eventually appointed Manuel Pellegrini and have since spent almost £140million on Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, with another hefty price set to be paid for Lyon's Karim Benzema - who had been a target for both Manchester United and Arsenal.

Wenger, though, rejects the notion that simply spending money, however much, is the way forward.

"We have got an 'anti-Real' policy. We build on the long term, a bit like Barcelona," he said,

"There are two prices today, the price when Real Madrid buy and the market price.

"In the market, 35 million euros for Benzema is a very good price. But is he three times less good than Ronaldo? I don't think so."

Wenger added: "We do not need a lot of signings, only if there are players leaving.

"We have got a young team, which has an average age of 22 or 23, and one which is maturing - even if it can make mistakes like in semi-final of the Champions League this season."

Arsenal's first team squad are set to reassemble at London Colney on Monday, although captain Cesc Fabregas has been given some extra time off following his Confederations Cup campaign with Spain, along with England Under-21 pair Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs.

The Gunners start their preparations for the new season with the now traditional trip to Barnet on July 18 before a training camp in Austria and then the Emirates Cup on August 1/2.

Your Comments

liverpool_1986

"SILVERSTUDS - everyteam has injuries. We had 2 of our most influential players out for long periods (Torres/Gerrard) and yet we still managed to finish only 4 points behind the winners. Its not an excuse so dont use it. "

arseven (Arsenal fan)

"greekgooner seems to have missed the point! Wenger is claiming he is experimenting - the last four years has shown that unless you graft youth into a backbone of experienced players you are going to be frustrated all the time! As for the 80's, whodo you think shouted Terry and even George out of that club! Certainly not the Hill-Wood Gang! They were interested in the value of their shares and not the club or its supporters who paid day-in-day out the ticket prices! If yopu cannot stand the truth, then I suggest you join the supporters of a club who are happy to be in that league! have a look at Liverpool and ManU for their road to success!"

hodgethecat (Arsenal fan)

"I'd rather come fourth every year and run a model club than win the league on the back of a timebomb of debt"

pbgooner (Arsenal fan)

"at 24 i have been spoilt as an arsenal fan in my life. This is the first time in a long time that we have begun questioning the set-up. As a kid you would go to a semi final and knew more often than not we'd win. Now thathasn't happened much recently but that still hasn't led me to believe we've had it.

I genuinely believe in a few years we will look back and really appreciate our policy as a club. It's well known throughout the continent we are a model club and if wenger had of gone to real do you think they would have bough ronaldo? no way they would have got him in to try and create a structure and change they're club for the better long term. Arsene Wenger is not fobbing us off, he knows we're on the cusp of something special, similar to the success fergie achieved with his team of youngsters that played the footballing culture he'd installed.

In our worst seasons yet we've got to a champions league final and two semi's and recently the semi of the f.a. cup. All with a very young team, is that a club in crisis or a team on the verge of greatness?

EIE"

Silverstuds (Arsenal fan)

"wess81 - Finally a football fan with some intelligence and maturity.

We had a bad run of luck last season and we've been horribly injury prone for the past 2 seasons. Having two massively influential players (Rosicky & Van Persie) sidelined for so long. Two players who could turn a game our way in an instant.

LETS NOT FORGET we DO have a fantastically exciting signing waiting to ignite the heart of this club.

His name is Eduardo and he is a born goal machine. Let's not forget that because of the INCREDIBLY bad luck we've had that he hasn't been able to affect our fortunes yet.

Having him return AND Rosicky IS like having two new signings.

We have another defender to stengthen the hole in the back four and he does look very good.

Personally? We need a big, dominating defensive midfielder and we're ready. We all know we need a big man in the middle and we also know that Wenger keeps his transfers VERY close to his chest.

I'm almost CERTAIN Wenger will bring in a new Viera.

But if he doesn't? well then his confidence must be in Diaby or Song and whether we agree with this potential vote of confidence, Wenger IS a genius and we must trust him.

Keep the faith lads. The silverware WILL come and when it does, it'll be CONSTANT. Not a desperate one hit wonder team like City (might) end up being."

greekgooner (Arsenal fan)

"arseven if supporters like you, who have been supporting the arsenal for sixty years, need a miracle to support them then you really are not a true fan!!! Did you forget the 80's of promise under terry neil and don howe. We don't need supporters like you. Go a support a mid table team or watch cricket and snooker."

arseven (Arsenal fan)

"I thought he only had one more year on his contract! Does that mean his "re-thinking his strrategy" means he will leave Arsenal? Right now a miracle is needed to keep me an Arsenal supporter - after 60 years support! While he is at it he can take this Board with him - preferably back to the States!"

cesqofranc (Arsenal fan)

"well all i think is that he should maybe let out sime of the players we have nw for other good players 2 come inn"

mattao5 (Arsenal fan)

"chrls79 (Manchester United fan) & RQuaresma (Manchester United fan) - both of u do one and keep your stupid comments to yourselves.igf u both are arsenal fans, then yes..say what u like..if your not, get lost. and westwick. NOT all arsenal fans are even glory hunters. u dont even know what ur even sayin mate. loyalty and stability matters more than anythin in life.

COME ON WENGER. GIVE US THE TROPHY LOVE BACK =)"

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