'A taste of success'

Gunners determined to capitalize on glorious year

LONDON (Reuters) -- As the freshly framed photographs on the wall of their training ground show, Arsenal are rightly proud of their newfound ability to swap mediocrity for triumph.

For three years running, they had to settle for second best in the Premier League, and the images that were once displayed at their Hertfordshire complex -- routine shots of their players in action -- were anything but award-winning.

But their new gallery has been designed with pride. Thanks to their Premier League and FA Cup double last season, all the photographs now capture Arsenal players in the act of winning.

"We have a hunger to experience all those great feelings again," said manager Arsene Wenger. "I can see it in each of the players, they have had a taste of success and want to be winners again."

It is this desire that should worry Arsenal's main rivals Manchester United and Liverpool most as the new season begins.

As United won three titles in a row from 1999-2001, Arsenal seemed unsure of themselves, accepting that second place to their Manchester rivals was not a shameful place to be.

But their tour de force last season, when a host of records fell, has changed the club's persona. Wenger even says Arsenal can become the team of the decade in England.

Most of his players still talk about the night of May 8 this year as the sweetest of their careers as they traveled to Old Trafford and beat the defending champions on their home turf to clinch the title.

It was a perfect end to a season in which they had become the first top flight club in more than a century to stay unbeaten away from home. They also scored in every league game.

They have a hard act to follow, therefore, and critics will suggest, in keeping with their experience following the double win of 1998, that Arsenal will fall short this time.

They finished their preparations smartly with a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Community Shield on Sunday after which Wenger restated how hungry his players are for more success.

Surely, with the inspirational French coach leading their challenge, if any team finishes above Arsenal they will be crowned as champions.

Wenger should have been shortlisted for European coach of the year, even though the criteria for the award is generally based on a team's performance in European competitions -- something they don't like to talk about at Arsenal.

Problems to address

Since arriving as boss in 1996, Wenger has helped transform the playing staff, helping good players like Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Fredrik Ljungberg become great ones, while producing an impressive team spirit.

There are still problems for Wenger to address, however.

While his own bombast, and Patrick Vieira's decision to commit his future to the club, demand that they are considered among the best in Europe, Arsenal cannot compete with United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and others in the money league.

Wenger has spent about 6.5 million pounds (US$10 million) to strengthen his squad in the close season with the signings of French defender Pascal Cygan and Brazil's World Cup-winner Gilberto Silva. The other new face, Uruguayan goalkeeper Fabian Carini, is on loan from Juventus.

Contrast that with United's statement of intent -- the 30 million pounds ($45.82 million) spent on defender Rio Ferdinand.

Wenger says he is happy with his squad, even though Pires, Ljungberg and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will miss the start of the season through injury. Their return -- and to form -- must come quickly if Arsenal are not to fall off the early pace.

More costly could be the retirement of defenders Lee Dixon and, especially, Tony Adams. As club captain, Adams bestrode Arsenal even when he was not playing, and the maturing Vieira has to bear quite a weight of responsibility as the new skipper.

Even Adams, fearful of a transitional season at Arsenal, has tipped United to win the league, which won't have gone down well in one half of north London.

Wenger must also orchestrate a long overdue, successful Champions League campaign if Arsenal are to live up to his own billing, and justify his decision to turn down the chance of becoming France coach.

Arsenal have reached only one Champions League quarterfinal under Wenger, and have never won the European Cup. How Wenger attempts to break that mould while also keeping their domestic challenge alive will define their season.

 

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