Arsenal Mania

Wenger: 2008 was not a great year

Written by Jonathan Chong on Saturday, January 3, 2009

Manager Arsène Wenger has said that he's happy to see the back of 2008, after an eventful year for the club.

The Frenchman saw his team lead the Premiership last season only to fall away at the end, and start this new season in indifferently.

Wenger also admitted that he made mistakes himself last year, but upon reflection could not see himself doing anything differently.

He said: "It was not a great year.

"We were in a strong position [this time last year]. I still believe we were unlucky because we were very close to winning the championship and we were very close in the Champions League and unlucky in the Champions League.

"But that is the game. The difference is very, very small between success and failure, so it is important to be consistent and keep your focus and belief."

"Look, unless you're completely crazy in life you can never say you could not have done anything differently.

"That means that every morning from when you get up to when you go to bed you do not make one simple mistake. Only a guy who is completely full of himself could say that and I will never say that.

"We worked very hard, with total commitment inside the Club and that is what you want from everybody. I know I worked harder than ever and that I am more committed than ever. I tried to be intelligent and all the rest is subjective.

"But I think we were in a more negative environment on the media side. The other day I saw some statistics, and for example in 2005/06 we lost 11 games and we went into the Champions League Final and only went into the Champions League in the final game of the season.

"But we were never under any pressure [from the media that season], not like this team. We are five years younger and under much more pressure now."

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