Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal endured a
disappointing campaign despite securing the
runners-up spot, behind champions Leicester,
for the first time since 2005.
Arsenal's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa
combined with Tottenham's disastrous 5-1 defeat
at Newcastle on Sunday ensured Wenger's side
finished above their local rivals, who had
seemed certain to take second place for
several weeks.
The Gunners have now finished above
Tottenham every year since 1995 and the
significance of unexpectedly maintaining
bragging rights over their hated neighbours
was evident from the gleeful reaction of the
home supporters.
But while Arsenal's season ended on a high,
Wenger admitted it was impossible to disguise
the disappointment at not challenging Leicester
more closely.
"We are not happy by being second but 18
other teams behind us would be happy to be in
our position," Wenger said. "But of course our
target was to be first and for a while we
believed we could do it.
Arsene Wenger interview
Duration: 2 min, 26 sec
Post-match interview with Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger
"I knew our position at the end would depend
on us getting through some difficult away
games without damage, and on Leicester as
well dropping some points.
"That was not only us, it was Tottenham as
well who were in a better position than us for
a long, long period, and Manchester City as
well.
"I think we kept going when we had a period
that was very difficult for us, we kept
togetherness and we have now not lost for
nine games and that mental strength in the
dressing room got us through that period."
Wenger had been the target of protests from
supporters demanding change at Arsenal's last
home game and admitted the reception he
received was warmer than the one two weeks
previously.
'I AM NOT MASOCHIST'
"It is a positive feeling," he said. "I am not
masochist enough to love to be booed.
"I am in a public job and I accept criticism. I
think I have proved in 20 years that I
accept being criticised.
"My target is to keep everyone happy but
unfortunately I don't manage to do it always.
"We did not start the season saying we want
to finish above Tottenham. But we wanted to
win the league and I agree with you there is
a frustration because we didn't win the league.
"Today, we could only play with the target we
had. And the only one we had before the
game was to finish second.
"We achieved it. For a while our supporters
have not been going home happy from here –-
at least today they had some satisfaction."
Olivier Giroud's hat-trick and an own-goal from
Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn completed the win
as Arsenal said farewell to Tomas Rosicky,
Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, who will leave
in the close-season.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere made his first
start since the final day of last season and
came through a 70-minute performance in
front of the watching England coach Roy
Hodgson.
Theo Walcott was ruled out with a minor
hamstring problem, but Wenger insisted the
winger was fit enough to be considered for
England's Euro 2016 squad that will be
announced on Monday.
"Jack is fit," Wenger said. "Theo has a little
hamstring problem. He is sharp but not
available.
"If he is selected tomorrow he is available for
Euros."
Villa's relegation into the Championship had been
confirmed long before this game, but caretaker
manager Eric Black believes there is a chance
the club will come straight back up.
"No-one wants to go through this again," he
said. "The rebuilding has to start quickly.
"It's definitely realistic for Villa to aim to come
straight back to the Premier League.
"There is no doubt that Villa is a massive club
with the potential to come back, but there is
stuff to be sorted out with the owners and
the new manager.
"Some of these players will be here next
season and it's important for them to get the
fans back on board, which they have started
to do in the last three games."
disappointing campaign despite securing the
runners-up spot, behind champions Leicester,
for the first time since 2005.
Arsenal's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa
combined with Tottenham's disastrous 5-1 defeat
at Newcastle on Sunday ensured Wenger's side
finished above their local rivals, who had
seemed certain to take second place for
several weeks.
The Gunners have now finished above
Tottenham every year since 1995 and the
significance of unexpectedly maintaining
bragging rights over their hated neighbours
was evident from the gleeful reaction of the
home supporters.
But while Arsenal's season ended on a high,
Wenger admitted it was impossible to disguise
the disappointment at not challenging Leicester
more closely.
"We are not happy by being second but 18
other teams behind us would be happy to be in
our position," Wenger said. "But of course our
target was to be first and for a while we
believed we could do it.
Arsene Wenger interview
Duration: 2 min, 26 sec
Post-match interview with Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger
"I knew our position at the end would depend
on us getting through some difficult away
games without damage, and on Leicester as
well dropping some points.
"That was not only us, it was Tottenham as
well who were in a better position than us for
a long, long period, and Manchester City as
well.
"I think we kept going when we had a period
that was very difficult for us, we kept
togetherness and we have now not lost for
nine games and that mental strength in the
dressing room got us through that period."
Wenger had been the target of protests from
supporters demanding change at Arsenal's last
home game and admitted the reception he
received was warmer than the one two weeks
previously.
'I AM NOT MASOCHIST'
"It is a positive feeling," he said. "I am not
masochist enough to love to be booed.
"I am in a public job and I accept criticism. I
think I have proved in 20 years that I
accept being criticised.
"My target is to keep everyone happy but
unfortunately I don't manage to do it always.
"We did not start the season saying we want
to finish above Tottenham. But we wanted to
win the league and I agree with you there is
a frustration because we didn't win the league.
"Today, we could only play with the target we
had. And the only one we had before the
game was to finish second.
"We achieved it. For a while our supporters
have not been going home happy from here –-
at least today they had some satisfaction."
Olivier Giroud's hat-trick and an own-goal from
Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn completed the win
as Arsenal said farewell to Tomas Rosicky,
Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, who will leave
in the close-season.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere made his first
start since the final day of last season and
came through a 70-minute performance in
front of the watching England coach Roy
Hodgson.
Theo Walcott was ruled out with a minor
hamstring problem, but Wenger insisted the
winger was fit enough to be considered for
England's Euro 2016 squad that will be
announced on Monday.
"Jack is fit," Wenger said. "Theo has a little
hamstring problem. He is sharp but not
available.
"If he is selected tomorrow he is available for
Euros."
Villa's relegation into the Championship had been
confirmed long before this game, but caretaker
manager Eric Black believes there is a chance
the club will come straight back up.
"No-one wants to go through this again," he
said. "The rebuilding has to start quickly.
"It's definitely realistic for Villa to aim to come
straight back to the Premier League.
"There is no doubt that Villa is a massive club
with the potential to come back, but there is
stuff to be sorted out with the owners and
the new manager.
"Some of these players will be here next
season and it's important for them to get the
fans back on board, which they have started
to do in the last three games."
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