Arsene Wenger has declared his young Gunners will
"have a word to say" again in the Premier League title race next
season.
Although the deficit on champions Manchester
United, who knocked Arsenal out of Europe, stands at some 18 points
heading into Sunday's last round of matches, when Stoke come to
Emirates Stadium, Wenger insists his squad continue to make
relative progress.
"We were in the Champions League final in 2006, the
quarter-final last year and the semi-final this year. Last year we
nearly won the [Premier League] championship, this year we did not
- but we have not stood still in the last four years like many
people have suggested," Wenger said.
"I know bigger clubs who have gone out in the last 16 of the
Champions League in the last five years.
"The level of competition is very high in England, but I believe
we will have a word to say next season."
Wenger added: "If you are a top player, when you are 23, then
you normally start to perform at the level of the Champions League
- these players have 40 or 50 Champions League games at 22 years
old. They are much ahead of the programme here."