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Home  » Sports » Wenger still hungry for more

Wenger still hungry for more

By William Kemble-Diaz
May 16, 2004 15:12 IST
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in no mood to rest on his laurels after his team became the first top-flight team in 115 years to finish the domestic football league season unbeaten.

"We were invincible this year but we start at zero points next year, along with all the other teams," Wenger said, after Arsenal eased out relegated Leicester City 2-1 on the last day of the English premier league season.

Clearly relishing the moment, Wenger recognised that the London team had achieved something "special" that would probably never be repeated.

"We can win more trophies but to do as well in the league as we did this season will probably be impossible," he said.

For a while it looked like the champions might choke within sight of the finishing line after Leicester took a first-half lead on Saturday.

"The signs were there before halftime, the heavy legs, lack of concentration, not looking sharp, and it was the resolve (shown) in the dressing room that got us going again," the Arsenal boss said.

Fittingly it was player of the year and top goal scorer Thierry Henry and captain Patrick Vieira who got the two goals for Arsenal.

"This team will be remembered forever," Vieira said, as he jigged in celebration on the sun-blazoned Highbury pitch to the thunderous singing of the Arsenal faithful.

Arsenal have not had it all their own way over the 2003/04 season though.

KNOCKED OUT

They were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by London rivals Chelsea, lost to Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final and to Middlesbrough at the same late stage of the League Cup.

But unlike England's only other 'invincibles', the moustachioed Preston North End of 1888-89, Arsenal have done it at a time when soccer is a global business and competition is far more intense.

The season was also much shorter back then, spanning 22 games in what was the Football League's inaugural season. Arsenal played 38 games, winning 26 and drawing 12 to clinch their latest title.

By winning against Leicester, Arsenal also extended their unbeaten league run to 40 games, including two matches at the back-end of last season.

Their next target is Nottingham Forest's 42-game record unbeaten run, which ran over two seasons in 1977-78 - a fact which Wenger said would spur the team on to start strongly next season.

"It should help us to stay switched on," the Frenchman said.

The Champions League title also still eludes the 13-times champions.

"It's going to be difficult (to get better) but we'll keep trying," said Dutch veteran playmaker Dennis Bergkamp.

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William Kemble-Diaz
Source: REUTERS
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