Countdown to 07/08: Wenger - My Kids Can Take On United …
Sun: ARSENE WENGER has warned his Arsenal kids there will be no excuses for another poor season.
The French boss has made it clear that nothing less than a genuine title challenge and a decent Champions League campaign will be enough to keep him happy.
With only one year to run on his contract, Wenger wants hard evidence of progress at the Emirates before committing himself to a new deal.
He said: “We were out of the title race much too early last season and that was not acceptable.
“By the middle of October we were already sitting 16 points behind the leaders and with no chance of winning the championship.
“This time I expect us to be fighting for the title in March, April and May. Then if you win or lose it by one or two points you can accept it.
“Last season we knew we were facing major competition in England from clubs who had invested a lot of money.
“We wanted to choose a different way and be a bit more patient to develop these young players.
“But this time we cannot claim we are too inexperienced because even players like Cesc Fabregas, who is only 20, have already played 100 games.
“We showed in spells last season what we were capable of. We got to the Carling Cup final — but that is not a major trophy.
“The Premier League and the Champions League are major trophies. And those are my targets for next season.”
Wenger also dismissed claims from Freddie Ljungberg — now at West Ham — that he broke promises to bring in world-class signings and showed a lack of ambition to compete with title rivals Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
The Arsenal boss insisted: “I didn’t make promises to anyone. A company only works well when everyone does the job they are responsible for.
“No player is ever responsible for the technical side of the club or its transfer policy. The players are only responsible for the performances of the team.
“I am responsible for the technical performances and someone else looks after the financial running of the club.
“As long as everyone knows and does what they are supposed to be doing then the company has a good chance of success.
“People are trying to create turmoil and instability around the club. But as long as we all concentrate on our roles that will not be a problem.
“Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry have been great players for this club and I wish to thank them both for their contributions over the years.
“But Arsenal has been very good for their careers as well and it was their decisions to leave. No one is here forever but the talents we have coming through at this club make us really optimistic for the future.
“We have world-class players coming through to replace these guys and the spirit of the team can also compensate for the quality we have lost.”
In fact, Wenger insists he has witnessed a renewed sense of vigour and purpose during his team’s pre-season preparations.
He added: “Our togetherness, our desire and our hunger for success has been greater than ever.
“I am very excited about the new season and it makes me very impatient to get started.”
Wenger is still in the market for at least one more signing after spending £18million on striker Eduardo Da Silva, full-back Bacary Sagna and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
But he is more than happy with his squad as it stands.
He said: “I feel that players like Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor are ready to take over from Thierry up front.
Fabregas and Denilson can show they have the quality to reach the level Patrick Vieira was at a couple of years ago.
“And we brought in Theo Walcott to take over from these players. You cannot say he is potentially a world-class player and then not give him the chance to show it.
“We were never planning to spend a lot of money this summer because we have prepared this young team to grow.
“Manchester United won the title and they only bought Michael Carrick last summer after selling Ruud van Nistelrooy. The lack of signings did not stop them.
“We have to show we can progress and go forward as a team and we have spoken to the players about that.
“They have all stood and taken on that responsibility. They want to show how good they are. And, yes, of course I think we can win the title.”
Wenger could even afford to laugh off the recent jibes from title rival managers Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho claimed his own days of controversy are over while Fergie insisted Arsenal can be a better team this season without Henry.
Wenger smiled: “I’ll treat both those statements with a lot of caution.
“I wouldn’t like to say what is behind those comments . . . but I hope they are sincere!”
Arsenal have been linked with a big-money move for Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins.
But the Nigerian insists he is fully committed to the Toon cause and wants to fight it out with Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Albert Luque for a starting spot up front.
Toon boss Sam Allardyce has been sweating on £60,000-a-week Martins’ future with the Gunners set to trigger a £13m release clause in the Nigerian star’s contract.
But the £10m former Inter Milan star is keen to provide the goals to fire Big Sam’s Tyneside revolution.
Martins, who scored 17 goals last season, said: “I aim to keep my mouth shut but I’m still a Newcastle player and I’m not going anywhere. I’m very happy at the club.”
