Wenger confident of Arsenal trophies this season

Arsene Wenger celebrated his 60th birthday today by telling the Arsenal General Meeting he was convinced his young side could end their trophy drought this season.

The Gunners boss addressed shareholders at Emirates Stadium this morning, when he used the platform to once again champion the potential of his youthful squad.

Despite an appearance in the Champions League final, Arsenal have not got their hands on any silverware since the 2005 FA Cup.

Wenger, though, maintains that can all change come May 2010, his team having won six from eight Barclays Premier League games so far and looking well placed to reach the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition.

"I know that we haven't won a trophy for four years, but we have been very close and I believe that this year the team will do it," said Wenger.

"When I say that, it is not to please you, it is because I am really convinced of it.

"This season we are ready to go for it in the Premier League, the Champions League and of course both the cups as well."

Wenger, whose side were hit by a stoppage-time equaliser against AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday night, added: "We are in October and we know it will be very tight - it will come down to how resilient, consistent, intelligent and united we are until the end.

"There will be periods when it will be difficult, but we have to show our strengths that has always made this club special."

Wenger has certainly put plenty of time and faith in his latest crop of talent, now led by the likes of captain Cesc Fabregas and Dutch striker Robin van Persie.

The Arsenal manager firmly believes that can all start to pay off with consistent results on the pitch over the next seven months.

"Its not just about pumping money into the team. There is a magic in our sport and our club," said Wenger, who recently became the longest serving manager in Arsenal's history.

"We have developed the team in the last four of five years with a tremendous amount of training to develop them how we want.

"I believe a team is easier to develop if they are grown up inside the club, from 16 even younger because they learn to love the club and what it represents."

Wenger, who takes Arsenal to struggling West Ham on Sunday, added: "I believe it is essential that we maintain our values in the club.

"It is important that we are proud of the Arsenal way, the way we play the game and develop players.

"You cannot be a big club and have a small culture. You have to have a desire to see quality in what to do."

Wenger received a standing ovation and was presented with a book of signed birthday messages from shareholders.

Earlier at the AGM, there had also been a chance for members of the board to field questions.

However, Stan Kroenke lived up to his reputation when maintaining a dignified silence after one shareholder directly raised the issue as to the intentions of the American billionaire investor.

The Denver-based sports magnate is now the largest individual shareholder in the Gunners' parent company, with a stake of some 28.86% which includes a recent £765,000 purchase.

Should Kroenke, or indeed anyone else such as second-largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov, reach the 29.9% threshold, they would, under the City's financial regulations, be obliged to launch a formal takeover bid.

However, when the inevitable subject was brought up from the floor, Kroenke, seated next to chief executive Ivan Gazidis on the top table, simply sat back and smiled, allowing chairman Peter Hill-Wood to try to address the matter.

"I don't think we are looking for a change in custodian," said Hill-Wood.

"I think you will find the club is in pretty good hands.

"I believe he [Stan] is happy to be a long-term shareholder in our club.

"Really it's not for me to say what his intentions are."

Kroenke's group are just some 646 shares short of the takeover threshold.

Any public statements against future bid intentions must be unambiguous, otherwise the individual or group would, under the Takeover Panel's rule 2.8, be prevented from making a formal move for six months.

Hill-Wood added: "It is not something I can discuss publicly or even privately.

"We have a takeover panel breathing down our necks and I have to be very careful with what I say."