Saturday 30 April 2016 09:23, UK
Arsene Wenger defended his record at Arsenal telling fans his loyalty to the club allowed them to move into the Emirates.
Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004 and Wenger has faced increasing pressure from the club's fans in recent weeks.
However, Wenger has responded by claiming it was his own commitment to the club which helped to secure the bank loans required to develop their impressive £390m stadium.
"When we built the stadium the banks demanded that I signed for five years," said Wenger. "I did it. Do you want me to tell you how many clubs I turned down during that period?
"The banks wanted the technical consistency to guarantee that we have a chance to pay them back. I did commit and I stayed and under very difficult circumstances.
Do you want me to tell you how many clubs I turned down during that period?
"So for me to come back and, on top of that, people reproach me for not having won the championship during that period, it is a bit overboard. I accept criticism but I think that it is a bit too far."
It is 12 years since Arsenal last won the Premier League and 10 since they reached the Champions League final, but Wenger insists they are not far away from having a squad capable of becoming Premier League champions.
"We want to win everything," he added. "That is the target of every season when you start the season.
"Next season you have to face the same competition again, don't worry, and you have all the best managers coming into the league, everyone investing more money, and the competition will be fierce again.
"Do not question our quality but the margin is very small. The difference at some stage, the turning point at some stage in the season was very small.
"We were nearly there and as well we played in many competitions. Suddenly you lose one game that is unexpected and our team was very quickly under pressure.
"Our fans have been frustrated and disappointed because they thought we would win the league this season and we didn't. But that doesn't mean we have to throw everything away."
