Cup winner Arsene eyes league title
ARSENE Wenger has challenged his Arsenal stars to use their English FA Cup final masterclass as inspiration to mount a serious bid for the Premier League next season.
Wenger’s side’s 4-0 rout of Aston Villa at Wembley yesterday morning served as a warning to Jose Mourinho’s newly crowned league champions Chelsea.
Goals from Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud ensured Wenger became the first post-World War II manager to win the FA Cup six times.
The Gunners are the most successful club in the history of the competition after lifting the trophy for the 12th time.
It was also the biggest FA Cup final margin of victory since 1994.
After a spluttering start to the season that raised renewed questions about Wenger’s future, the Frenchman and his team have got their groove back over the last few months, sealing a third-place finish in the league.
Now, 11 years after they were last crowned kings of England, Wenger is willing to talk bullishly about a sustained assault on the title and even invoked the memory of his famous ‘‘Invincibles’’, who went undefeated on the way to winning the league in 2004.
“I feel we have made progress since the start of the season for sure, in the way we play, the way we manage games and our togetherness as well,” Wenger said.
“We finished third and won the Cup. It’s a good platform to do well next season.
‘‘We have shown signs of consistency.
“Remember we are the only ones who didn’t lose for 49 games. ‘‘Nobody else has done it. “We will see what is going on in the transfer market but we already have a good basis and a good confidence level.’’
Villa last won the FA Cup in 1957.