Wenger ‘didn’t see dip in Arsenal’s form coming’

ARSENE Wenger revealed his relief at the end of a “troubled” year dominated by Chelsea, as he admitted he had not foreseen the marked dip in Arsenal’s fortunes.

However, the Arsenal boss challenged his young side to ensure they still leave Highbury next summer on a high as he refused to compromise their free-flowing football in the pursuit of Jose Mourinho’s side.

Arsenal started 2005 as reigning champions, just two months after setting a record 49-game unbeaten league run and poised only five points behind Chelsea in the title race.

Only 12 months later, they have lost Patrick Vieira and dropped to sixth place in the table - a massive 20 points behind Chelsea, who ended last season as clear champions.

This year has represented a seismic shift in the balance of power, even if Arsenal did manage to lift the FA Cup and qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.

Wenger said: “It has been a troubled time. There was never a period before when we were not consistent. Sometimes we had a dip but never for as long as we’ve had this season.

“I didn’t see this dip coming. What has happened has been a bit of a surprise but it has been Chelsea’s year.

“We finished the 2004-05 season as runners-up and won the FA Cup. We hoped to win both but Chelsea deserved to win that championship. It was not a disastrous season.

“But the second part of 2005 was less positive for us. We did not start well and struggled to find our belief and confidence, although I feel we are going the right way now.

“There are still exciting challenges ahead of us in the Champions League, the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, while we want to show again in the championship that we can be consistent.”

But while Wenger has tinkered with his tactics over recent weeks, he is still not prepared to compromise his commitment to an attacking style in the pursuit of Chelsea.

“The best way is always to relax and to try to play well. We have to be faithful to our culture at the club and I am very confident our rhythm is now back,” he stressed.

Wenger’s main challenges for 2006 revolve around making it past Real Madrid into the Champions League quarter-finals, finishing in the top four of the Premiership and keeping Thierry Henry at the club.

Only then can the Gunners, who face Aston Villa away today, hope to avoid leaving Highbury on a low amid their move to the new 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.

“We have a lot of history behind this stadium and I’d love this last season to be remembered as one of the greater ones,” declared Wenger.

“That looks compromised in the championship but let’s still do everything we can to make it a big season.”

While Wenger believes his young side have come through a transitional 12-month period with greater experience, he does not even mind who wins this season’s title - as it is unlikely to be Arsenal.

“We have only a small chance, let’s be realistic, but we still want to finish as well as we can. I’m not interested in Liverpool or anyone else,” he emphasised.

“I want us to be the top team. After that, whether it’s Liverpool or Chelsea, I don’t mind. Frankly I think Liverpool are quite a long way behind Chelsea too.”

But, with their riches, is Chelsea’s current domination of English football likely to be as cyclical as that of Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United in the past?

Wenger concluded with a wry smile: “If it doesn’t happen, they will still be unbeaten in 2025.”