Father figure: Arsene Wenger acknowledges the need for trophies
Photo: Arsene Wenger has committed himself to Arsenal until 2014 but has admitted he
will have to change his policy of cultivating young players if the current
crop does not deliver a major trophy soon.
Wenger signed the three-year extension to his contract yesterday and, in a club statement, said, "My heart belongs to Arsenal and my desire is to see this team win silverware. My commitment and drive are as strong and fresh as ever. Signing a new deal means that I can see this talented group of players reach their potential. Trust me, they are ready to deliver."
The players' ability to deliver will define Wenger's approach in the next four
years, as he conceded that he might have to change the club's philosophy.
Asked if the continued failure to deliver a trophy would force him to change
his policy of signing promising young players and giving them time to develop
Wenger, whose side face Liverpool at Anfield today, conceded he would
have to change his strategy. "Yes but it depends as well what you
consider a trophy," he said.
"For me a trophy is the championship or the Champions League. Would you like to finish 10th in the League and win the League Cup and say you've won a trophy? Certainly not.
"I don't know (when a change of policy would be implemented). I just want to finish this season. After every season you think about where are we, because the main target is always to get the maximum out of the team.
"I believe last year we were not that far off - with all the injuries we had, with all the problems we had, to finish third in the league and go out in the quarter-final against Barcelona, was not shameful."
Having signed a new deal, and with Cesc Fabregas having committed to the club for another campaign, this season is freighted with expectation. "It's always like that in my head. Maybe more than ever. My concern is that the policy we have chosen delivers trophies.
"In the last four, five years we have gone for a young team, to bring them up, and we try to be more of a team than the others. We know how to play together but we need to deliver trophies now.
"You just say to me now Manchester City invests over £100 million, we £8m, and if we do not win it it's a scandal. That's the question you ask me.
"And I think that you are right, because if we don't win the championship it is an absolute disgrace, but you have to accept, too, that the league is at a high level and it is not as easy as it looks."
"For me a trophy is the championship or the Champions League. Would you like to finish 10th in the League and win the League Cup and say you've won a trophy? Certainly not.
"I don't know (when a change of policy would be implemented). I just want to finish this season. After every season you think about where are we, because the main target is always to get the maximum out of the team.
"I believe last year we were not that far off - with all the injuries we had, with all the problems we had, to finish third in the league and go out in the quarter-final against Barcelona, was not shameful."
Having signed a new deal, and with Cesc Fabregas having committed to the club for another campaign, this season is freighted with expectation. "It's always like that in my head. Maybe more than ever. My concern is that the policy we have chosen delivers trophies.
"In the last four, five years we have gone for a young team, to bring them up, and we try to be more of a team than the others. We know how to play together but we need to deliver trophies now.
"You just say to me now Manchester City invests over £100 million, we £8m, and if we do not win it it's a scandal. That's the question you ask me.
"And I think that you are right, because if we don't win the championship it is an absolute disgrace, but you have to accept, too, that the league is at a high level and it is not as easy as it looks."