Wenger says he's responsible for Arsenal's struggles

LONDON (Reuters) -- Arsene Wenger's season has been the worst of his managerial career at Arsenal, the Frenchman said on Friday.

"If you analyze the season I would say yes it has been my worst," Wenger told reporters. "We are 22 points behind the leader so I cannot say I did everything perfectly.

"I have to stand up and say I am responsible for the fact that we didn't fight for the championship."

Wenger is the most successful manager in the club's history after winning three league titles and four FA Cups during his 11-year spell with the Premier League side.

He has had a season to forget, however, as his side have failed to challenge for any major honors and was knocked out of the Champions League in the early stages.

The only time it came close to winning was the League Cup where Wenger decided to play a young, understrength side who lost in the final against Chelsea's top lineup.

"The only thing I can say is that I was more committed and worked harder than ever this year," Wenger said. "But still I have to stand up for what I call a failure.

"It is a very, very young side. We have shown some quality football that nobody else has shown. That tells you about the potential of the team.

"There are a lot of positive ingredients in the team that make me believe with a good start we will come back strong."

Wenger allows Muamba to leave, signs keeper

Arsene Wenger has begun his summer transfer activity by allowing highly-rated midfielder Fabrice Muamba to join promoted Birmingham City and agreeing a deal to sign Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Muamba, a 19-year-old England youth international, joined Birmingham on a permanent deal after spending the season on loan at the club, Arsenal said on its Web site on Friday.

He had reportedly opened talks with Birmingham manager Steve Bruce over a two million pounds ($3.96 million) deal.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner will return to Arsenal following a loan spell at St Andrews.

Wenger said he wanted to add more competition to the goalkeeping department and was confident Fabianski would push Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia for the number one jersey.

"We think he has the potential to grow into a serious contender for the side. He is very young and that is why we have signed him," Wenger told reporters.

"He will challenge [for the first team] and we will see when he arrives how quickly that is. Football is about competition and it is down to quality and performance and the rest is open.

"Bendtner is coming back into our squad and I am a great believer in him because he has the potential to become an Arsenal football player."

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