Room for improvement in young side, says Wenger

ARSENE WENGER has given his Arsenal side a new year challenge of exceeding their Double-winning achievements of 2002.

Wenger believes there is room for even further improvement in his young squad, especially in the Champions League as they have not progressed past the quarter-finals during his five seasons in charge.

Despite not having recently been in top form, they already lead the table by five points and have a chance to inflict damage on second-placed Chelsea’s challenge by defeating the Blues this afternoon at Highbury.

With an FA Cup third round tie at home to Oxford to come, as well as leading the way in their Champions League group, Wenger is therefore full of confidence as he surveys the prospects for 2003.

The Arsenal boss admitted it would be hard to improve greatly on his team’s achievements over the past 12 months, having at times touched upon perfection in his eyes, but he does believe that progress is possible.

“It’s always hard to win in such a competitive world, but it would be even greater to do better than last year,” he argued.

“Look at the average age of teams in the Premier League and we have the youngest squad on most weekends.

“So there is room there for them to improve. The younger you are, the more room there is to become a better player.

“That is why I think we can do even better. But of course the others compete as well and want to beat you so it’s hard.”

Wenger was certainly proud of his side’s achievements in overthrowing Manchester United’s domination of English football, last season, although his aim of establishing a new hegemony is still some way off fruition.

“Certainly we could not have done much better, it’d be foolish to say that. We were top of our league and it’s difficult to be much better than that,” he said yesterday.

“We won trophies but also the quality of our game and the support we got were also fantastic. I think the club made a step forward during the year.

“There are moments of real magic in football when you feel a common bond between the team and the fans. We experienced that at times.

“To win the FA Cup was fantastic as it was frustrating to have lost the final the previous season. Of course, winning the title at Old Trafford was just amazing as it was the final part of all our work.”

Wenger refused to single out one player for special mention, given that 26 squad members took part last season, although he did note Thierry Henry’s achievement in finishing as the Premiership leading scorer.

Henry will need to be at his sharpest at Highbury today against Chelsea’s resolute defence, with Dennis Bergkamp set to return alongside him.

Graeme Le Saux is all to well aware to the threat posed by the Gunners but stresses that they are not unbeatable. “Liverpool did well at Highbury on Sunday. They took the game to Arsenal and that is what we have to do. It’s a tight pitch and we have to do what they constantly do to the opposition there, harry them at all times. They are perhaps not as formidable as they have been in other seasons but they still score goals when it really matters.

Claudio Ranieri’s side are five points behind and while Wenger knows that while the title race does not begin in earnest until Easter, victory over his nearest rivals would still be a significant blow.

“Of course I see this as an opportunity to keep them far away but we want to focus on the quality of our own performances, no matter who we play against,” he added. “There are still 17 games to go. When there are nine to 10 games left, you will have a clear indication of who will be there at the end of the race.

“At the moment, let’s get past the next seven or eight games. That’s why this is a big game coming up for us.”

Ranieri certainly has admiration for his opposite number and his achievements at the Highbury club. Admiration which he is more than willing to profess. “Everything he does, every player he signs, is fantastic. Arsenal are a big club with big fans. They deserve to stay at the top, but at Highbury, I will try to win.

“There are two fantastic teams in the Premiership in Arsenal and Manchester United. Then there is Liverpool and the rest.

“Chelsea last won the Championship a long time ago and it would be stupid now for me to say that we are going to finish top. Why would I want to say that, at this time?”

Wenger is anticipating a more positive approach from Ranieri’s side than Liverpool managed, certainly in the first-half of their 1-1 draw last Sunday.

“We could complain as we didn’t beat Liverpool but we won five minutes from the end at West Brom and if we had drawn that and then won, everyone would have said it’s great but it’s still mathematically the same,” he added.

“I’m not too worried about any inconsistencies of our opponents. Against us, nobody is inconsistent, we’ve seen that against Liverpool. Everybody is up for it from the first to the last minute.

“I think Chelsea will play more as they usually come at us in a more open game. We want to recover and win this one and so have a good start to the New Year.”