Arsenal boss Wenger: Third-place better than winning Cups

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rates finishing third ahead of winning either the FA or Carling Cups.

Wenger knows their title hopes are on the line tomorrow at Chelsea.

“It’s very important that we win something,” Wenger said yesterday. “We’re here to win trophies. But it depends on what you call trophies. Is it the Champions League, the Premier League, the League Cup? If you win the League Cup, for me, you cannot say that you win trophies.”

Asked if third position was better than winning either domestic cup, Wenger said: “Of course. It’s much more difficult. I want to win trophies and I’m frustrated if I don’t.

“But a season does not go from fantastic to zero. A season in the English league, when you fight with Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Man United and Chelsea to finish in the top three, is still not a disaster.

“We’ve just qualified from the group stage in the Champions League for the tenth consecutive season. That is, for me, three times as difficult as winning the League Cup five times. I know what’s difficult and what’s not difficult. I know people want to parade with a trophy and if you don’t win a trophy, you can’t do that. But it doesn’t mean the rest of the season has been completely useless.”