Arsenal ‘still one of Europe’s elite’

Arsenal are still one of the best teams not only in the Premier League but in Europe, according to Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman recently became Arsenal’s longest-serving manager and still believes his side are up there with the best, despite never winning the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole recently said in an interview with the Daily Mirror that any club looking to claim to be among the best on the continent needs to win the Champions League.

Wenger compared the West London team to his Arsenal side, stating they have previously flirted with the cup but have never managed to win it, something which he believes Arsenal will do in the near future.

He stated that Arsenal are an “elite club” and one of only two to have played in the Champions League on 12 consecutive occasions and are currently ranked in the top eight seeds in Europe.

Speaking about the Champions League, he said:

“We have been in the final, we have been in the semi-final and at some stage I think being here every year we will win it.”

Wenger’s confidence has been matched by that of his Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin. The midfielder claims Arsenal’s current 11-match unbeaten run shows how the side can compete for top honours, including the Premier League, and stated they need to channel their belief in order to and succeed this season.