Arsene Wenger has called Arsenal's last Premiership campaign "unacceptable" but, despite losing key players and facing uncertainty over the long-term ownership of the club, he insists his young side can challenge for the title in the season ahead.

Wenger is in the final year of his contract and is yet to commit himself to a new deal. Concerns over the American major shareholder Stan Kroenke's intentions at the Emirates Stadium and the €23.9 million sale of Thierry Henry to Barcelona have done little to restore confidence.

Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi said yesterday that Arsenal were "50 per cent of the team they were" without the striker.

Wenger spent his summer break at a health spa in Sardinia, after seeing his side finish 21 points behind the champions, Manchester United. "An acceptable season for Arsenal is to fight for the championship," he said. "Last year by the end of October we were 16 points off the leaders, and to be out of the championship by then is unacceptable.

"I want my team to fight for the championship and to do well in the Champions League. Last year we showed in spells - in the League Cup - what we could do. But the League Cup is not a major trophy. The major trophies are the championship and the Champions League.

"I've worked very hard to develop this team. We knew we were facing major competition in England with clubs who invest a lot of money. We knew we wanted to go a different way and be a little bit patient.

"But while we have a young team we can't say we don't have experience. Cesc Fabregas has played 100 games in the Premiership, after all.

"We have the quality and we must show it. I'm very optimistic because of what I've seen in my squad . . . I think we can win the league this season. Of course."

Concerns over his own future persist. "There is no news," he said. "I've shown since I arrived here that I'm very faithful to the club. I've always shown my commitment and I'll come out at the right moment to speak about the future. But, for now, I cannot announce things when they are not signed, not done, not discussed. There's still one year to go." Arsenal host the Emirates Cup this weekend, playing Paris St-Germain this evening and Inter Milan tomorrow.

Guardian Service