Second not a disaster - Wenger

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal being second in the Barclays Premier League is not a "disaster" - and declared there were plenty of big-spending rival clubs who would gladly swap places with his young side.

Arsenal's season is in danger of unravelling following a morale-sapping six-week spell which has seen them beaten in the Carling Cup final at Wembley, crash out of the Champions League to Barcelona and then lose an FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United.

The Arsenal Supporters Trust have expressed their "considerable disappointment" at recent results, but Wenger said: "We have done well for our age as we are second in the league. Is that a disaster for you? There are teams who invest 10 times more than us, one player cost more than the whole team and they are behind us. I don't understand the way people think."

He added: "We should not go overboard. We are second in the league so it's not a scandal. Where is the common sense?

"Some of the clubs behind us have done nothing for 20 years, yet suddenly they get a lot of praise. I don't understand.

"We have eight games to go and are in a position to fight for the championship, so let's give the maximum.

"If we are disappointed at the end then okay. Why do you say it's a disaster when we are second in the league? Do the 18 clubs behind us have a fantastic disaster?

"If I cannot defend the fact that we are second in the league and fighting for the championship then I should stay at home, but I am in a fighting job."

Wenger maintains success can be measured other than just by silverware in the cabinet.

"To be consistent at the top level is the most difficult and important thing in our job," he said. "We have been in the Champions League for 15 years, and there are only two clubs who have done that in this country - it is us and Manchester United."