Wenger has his eye on history

ARSENE WENGER unashamedly set his sights on ensuring that Arsenal are remembered as one of the great European teams of all time by winning the Champions League with flair.

Wenger accepts that the Gunners must improve, especially on their frustrating draw at home to Ajax last week, if they are to win the most wide-open Champions League in years.

However, he was at his most outspoken and confident as he aimed to emulate the feats of the great Real Madrid, Ajax and AC Milan sides of the past.

“I would love my team to be remembered as the first Arsenal team to win the European Cup. Who wouldn’t?” he declared ahead of tonight’s return fixture in Amsterdam.

“But teams that remain in history are firstly teams with a style of play, not just sides who win trophies.

“You remember them because they gave you something to enjoy. Of course we want to win trophies, but we also want to be a team with a style of play and a way of getting people to enjoy what we do.”

Wenger added: “Those teams all won the European Cup but that is a natural consequence of the way they played. I can also cite teams who have won it two or three times that you won’t remember.

“For example, Bayern Munich won the final three times but although they had a great team, you couldn’t say each of those teams was unforgettable.”

His confidence is fuelled by the fact that his side will be at virtually full strength tomorrow, with David Seaman and Ashley Cole both passed fit and Dennis Bergkamp having travelled by road.

Arsenal’s over-riding task is to transform their recent Premiership domination into a sustained European challenge, with even United having had to change their tactics on the continent.

Wenger nevertheless insists he will continue to concentrate on his own team’s strengths, with the Premiership remaining his first priority as European success, he believes, should naturally follow.

“We’re focused highly on winning both competitions but our first target will always be the Premier League,” he argued.

If pride comes before a fall, Wenger was taking something of a risk ahead of tonight’s game, given the high cost of defeat.

However, despite concerns over the state of the pitch in Amsterdam, he believes Arsenal have wised up since the frustration of being held at home by an emerging Ajax side last week.

“Ajax were very energetic against us, especially in the first half hour. We’d given a lot against Manchester United and they were sharper than us,” he added.

Wenger, who believes Ajax have blown their chances of winning the Dutch league, also believes the Champions League is wide open this season.

“I believe there are seven or eight teams who can win it. The favourites are still Real Madrid as they won it last year and they have the same team, plus they have added a bit of pepper to their salt with Ronaldo.

“But apart from that, Valencia seem to be the best team in the Spanish league and Milan may be the best team in Italy,” he said.