5:02AM BST 08 Aug 2012
It must seem like Groundhog Day for Wenger as the French coach went into a pre-season campaign with frenzied speculation over the future of the club captain, who went public with his decision not to sign a new deal, questioning Arsenal's direction.
As yet, though, there have been no indications a big-money move away from the
Emirates Stadium is in the offing, with
That, of course, could all change over the coming weeks before the transfer window closes.
Wenger, however, has not been standing still this summer, recruiting three marquee signings in German striker Lukas Podolski, France forward Olivier Giroud and Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla.
Arsenal have also been linked with Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin, who is surplus to requirements at Real Madrid.
However, Arsenal themselves are also expected to look to lighten their wage bill before adding more fresh faces – with Nicklas Bendtner and Andrei Arshavin both likely to move on sooner rather than later.
The return of England midfielder Jack Wilshere, recovering from ankle and knee problems, well before the end of the year would also boost the squad after he did not kick a ball last season.
However, Wenger knows if Arsenal are to progress and, whisper it quietly,
perhaps even mount a sustained title challenge, then they cannot show the
same disregard for consistency as at the opening of the 2011-12 campaign –
which included an humiliating 8-2 reverse at
''I find the situation very exciting,'' Wenger said.
''I was very, very worried last year for a long part of the season and very anxious for a long time because we faced such a tough competition.
''I knew already in October that we could not afford to drop many points to be in the Champions League.
''The tension was at the top level from September until May and we managed just to be in the top three. That was a quite remarkable achievement for the team.
''I am excited because we have learned from last year, we have a new start and a new opportunity.
''Hopefully we can be the surprise of the season because we have stability and stability is important.''
Despite all of his positive rhetoric, Wenger cannot get away from the fact Arsenal's barren run is now fast creeping towards a decade.
Of course, the club have not stood still in that period, reaching the Champions League final in 2006 and also now sitting proudly in their new 60,000-seat home at Ashburton Grove.
Nevertheless, just making sure of qualification for Europe's lucrative club competition is not in itself the sole aim of the team – in the dugout at least.
''We are now 15 years on the trot in the Champions League and I believe that shows that our business model works,'' said Wenger, a champion of balancing the books while Uefa's Financial Fair Play was still a pipe dream.
''On the other hand we are very ambitious, we want as well to win trophies.
''It's not enough just to be in the Champions League and we are focused on that of course.''
No matter how many years the pundits continue to write off his team as also-rans, Wenger will always remain true to his own ideology.
''We work very hard to make the team stronger. In this job, when you have consistency in your attitude you can stay at a certain level,'' the French coach said.
''The most difficult thing is to be consistent and we have shown over the last 15 years that we can maintain that consistency.
''I am confident that we have to be faithful to what we believe is right in football and in the game – the way we play football.''
Whether that alone will be enough to see his men finally deliver in 2013 remains to be seen.
