Arsene Wenger has warned Manchester United that Arsenal can win everything next season.
Wenger’s side finished empty-handed for a third successive season after fading in the closing weeks of the campaign.
The Gunners surrendered a five-point lead in the Premier League to Manchester United and crashed lost a Champions League quarter-final to Liverpool.
But Wenger insists his team are equipped to overhaul United and sweep the board next year.
“I think we can win everything. We are very, very close,” he told the Daily Express. “Now that the Champions League final has become an FA Cup final the team who is very strong in England has a good chance to win the European Cup. The Premier League title goes down to one game, won or lost.”
Wenger’s attacking talent is among the best in Europe if Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky stay fit and in form.
But he hinted he will look to strengthen his defense in the close-season.
“I believe overall quality, going forward, we were the best team in the League,” he said. “However, Arsenal conceded 10 more goals than the others and that made the difference.”
“It’s very difficult to take a perspective in what people expected from us at the start of the season, and the fact we are disappointed for not winning the championship, Wenger said.
“We have done beyond expectation, but, as well, we are disappointed beyond expectation as we have not won the championship. But we feel we are very, very close,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wenger has been blasted by former Gunners midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who is still furious that he wasn’t informed that Arsenal wanted to sell him last year.
Ljungberg claimed Wenger froze him out because he was hit by a series of injuries. The Sweden star eventually joined West Ham and admitted he decided to stay in the Premier League so he could get revenge on Wenger.
“It’s all about my injuries. Wenger simply doesn’t like those who show a weakness,” Ljungberg said.
“With him you generally feel as if you were in the army. It is only in public that he may appear to be some sort of man of liberal views,” the Swede said.
“While I was being treated for an injury they went out and found a different player for my position,” he said. “I was offended when all of a sudden I learnt from the papers Wenger was ready to consider offers for me from other clubs. No one had talked to me.”
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