Arsene Wenger has every right to feel "life is beautiful" at the
moment for his Arsenal side, but accepts that could all change very
quickly.
The Gunners travelled to Romania for Tuesday's Champions League
clash with Steaua Bucharest sitting pretty at the top of the
Barclays Premier League.
Victory in eastern Europe would make it eight in a row for Wenger's
emerging squad, who have shown few signs of missing star man
Thierry Henry, sold to Barcelona during the summer.
The Arsenal manager, however, has seen enough football during his
11 seasons in charge to know how quickly the scenario could
change.
The Frenchman said: "I take pride in the fact people go home having
felt that for one-and-a-half hours, life is beautiful and that is
why professional football exists.
"We get compliments when people enjoy watching your team - and that
is the biggest compliment you can get because all the rest is
basically for you and the ego."
Wenger continued: "As a manager you try to have a balance.
Sometimes we were criticised for overplaying and not being
efficient and being swept away by teams who often make the game
physical against Arsenal.
"There is no ideal way. As a manager you have to get to your team
what is in accordance with your personality and try to do it
well.
"After that some people like more direct play, I have nothing
against that - we play the game I like and my players like."
The Gunners boss, though, was quick to play down comparisons with
the 'Invincibles', who swept to the league title unbeaten in
2003-04.
Wenger stressed: "At the moment only similarities in the short term
- we are consistent.
"The challenge we face is the other team has been very, very
consistent in the long term. That demands special stamina and
motivation and that is something we have not proven yet."
And Wenger is well aware trophies are not won in the autumn.
"We have played a few games and done well, but we have not achieved
anything," he added. "Any team in the league can do that.
"We are nowhere. We are in a position of fighting with Manchester
United and Manchester City.
"We all prefer to say 'well done' - but that is not enough. What is
a real team is to achieve something together. We are a team who are
miles away from having done that."
Arsenal have certainly added some bite to their approach this
season, with both Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini - who faces a
fitness test on a groin problem ahead of the game - giving little
quarter at the heart of the midfield.
As Blackburn and West Ham have discovered lately, it will take more
than a determined approach to unsettle this current Gunners
team.
It is an edge Wenger's side had been missing in recent seasons,
with the likes of Martin Keown and long-time enforcer Patrick
Vieira having revelled in such roles during Arsenal's dominant
spell at the turn of the century.
Wenger admitted, though, that his team then did have disciplinary
problems and collect too many red cards.
He said: "I was embarrassed when it happened sometimes, when we did
not behave well.
"I was not embarrassed when I felt that the player, after much
provocation, responded overboard.
"There was a young Patrick Vieira, when he was really a young lion,
and being intimidated easily and he was annoyed because he got
tackled five times from behind.
"I can understand - but when we did not behave well it was
disappointing."
Arsenal were more than impressive in the way they swept aside
Sevilla 3-0 in their opening Champions League clash at Emirates
Stadium in what was supposed to represent the toughest test of
Group H.
Steaua may not have lost to English opposition in European
competition, but are hardly a side firing on all cylinders.
The Romanians are struggling for domestic form and lost their
opening Champions League game to Slavia Prague, a match followed by
the resignation of former international star Gheorghe Hagi as
manager, supposedly due to interference in team affairs from owner
Gigi Becali.
Nevertheless, new coach Massimo Pedrazzini maintains Steaua are
"not scared" of Arsenal.
Wenger knows his men must produce the goods again tomorrow with the
team having a history of poor results in eastern Europe.
"We have to show that we can improve that record," he said. "It is
a strange atmosphere always over there, it is darker and less
glamorous and you don't feel on a high.
"They are always good teams who are up for it against
Arsenal.
"It is a different kind of test - can you raise your level in a
less exciting environment and perhaps still a very difficult
one?"
(reopens) Wenger maintains the internal problems Steaua may be
going through will have little impact on tomorrow night's
match.
Speaking at tonight's official UEFA press conference in Bucharest,
Wenger said: "We are used to playing teams who have problems - but
Arsenal have a very good unity factor for the opponent teams.
"When you play against them, they suddenly discover they have no
problem at all."
The Gunners boss insisted: "Our target is to be at our best, and
not speculate on any weakness of our opponents.
"Steaua have a big tradition here and I have a big respect for
Romanian football."
Wenger stressed any suggestions of anyone else interfering with
team affairs other than the manager would not happen at
Arsenal.
"I do not think I will be in this position, because the way we are
organised at Arsenal is completely different," said Wenger.
"I have a technical responsibility that nobody else at the club
has."
Full-back Gael Clichy insisted the Gunners will not be phased by
what is expected to be a stern test in difficult conditions.
"We are on a good run and just want to be focused on the quality of
our own game tomorrow, then everything will be fine," he
said.
"We have great players and great quality in the team and have been
playing really well since the beginning of the season.
"It will be difficult - when a team is playing against Arsenal,
they will be ready for it, but we are ready for it as well."
Clichy added: "Everyone believes in the team.
"Since the first game of pre-season we were all looking forwards to
it because we wanted to show to everyone who have written off
Arsenal's title chances this year that we are ready for it.
"Now everyone is starting to see that, and we want to carry on this
good run."
Striker Robin van Persie, meanwhile, has an ankle problem, and is
another who faces a late fitness test.
Wenger said: "We have travelled with 19 players, and all are of top
quality so I will adapt.
"Maybe up front we could be a little bit short without Adebayor and
van Persie, but I think at least one of the two will be capable to
play."
The Arsenal manager was also not concerned by the choice of referee
for tomorrow's match - Terje Hauge.
The Norwegian was in charge of the Gunners defeat in the 2006
Champions League final to a goal from Henrik Larsson which Wenger
felt was offside.