Arsenal-Mania

Wenger: Get ready for a fight next season

By Jonathan Chong on Monday, May 12, 2008

Manager Arsčne Wenger offered his congratulations to Manchester United, and then warned his rival Sir Alex Ferguson to expect a fight next season.

The Gunners finished the season on 83 points, which would mostly have guaranteed them the championship, but United and Chelsea finished on 87, raising the bar.

Wenger said: "The message I have is, 'Congratulations and get ready for the fight next year'.

"This win gives us 83 points which is respectable. I have won championships with fewer than that and it highlights the level of competition.

"It highlights as well the level of the competition, the required amount of points needed this year because there was very little difference between the three teams who fought for the championship.

"Any little weakness and you were punished because Manchester United finished with 87, Chelsea 85 and we finished with 83.

"Where Manchester United made the difference was at home. They took similar points to us away from home and fewer than Chelsea, but at home, they had 17 victories.

"It feels like an anticlimax for us. It's disappointing but there's hope for the future because we have such a young side.

"We had a very young side here: the average age was 22.3 without the bench, and with the bench it would have gone down to 20. I think we can only be stronger next season. I think we have learned."

User Comments

7

weedonald

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 07:13 PM - Reply

Wenger's sole problem is that he is restricted by a self-imposed salary cap and also by an age cap. Therefore he cannot and will not bring in aging or jaded superstars like Ronaldinho, Et'o, Drogba, etc. What he will do and does better than any manager in the world, will be to find unknown talents, nurture and develop them and then wean them gradually into the first team over a period of 2-3 years or more. Why do you think he brings in 16 year old neophytes, punishes them for 3 years in the reserves and youth sides with occasional benchwarming experience in rare PL games and Cups and finally throws them into the PL battleground well-honed and burnished professionals?
Arsenal is more than a few players and a manager, it is a style of playing, a tactical and strategic management vision and a philosophy of football that screams patience, careful nurturing and beautifully stylish football that is admired and emulated worlwide. It is obvious that with a few smart aquisitions during the off-season, better luck with injuries and a vastly more efficient finishing in front of goal, Arsenal will be the best team in professional football!

6

Baz the Gooner

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 04:12 PM - Reply

Given the loss of Eduardo we achieved more than expected and with more points than last season. Where we let ourselves down was in the number of draws -11 -which meant losing 22 points. Had we converted 5 or 6 draws into wins - adding 10 or 12 points - then our final total could have been 93 or 95, winning the premiership with bells on!

5

Abba Mai Adda

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 03:06 PM - Reply

Yes i offer my congratulation to Man United, but God willing next 3 season Arsenal shall tittle all competitions.