So what's wrong with second place?

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, has responded strongly to critics of his side by claiming there's nothing wrong with being in second place. The Frenchman also defended his youth policy and strategies and took a few subtle hits against clubs like Chelsea and Man City who have spent big but are behind the Gunners in the league.

Here's what Wenger said as reported by Soccernet.

"We have done well for our age as we are second in the league. Is that a disaster for you? There are teams who invest 10 times more than us, one player cost more than the whole team and they are behind us. I don't understand the way people think. We should not go overboard. We are second in the league so it's not a scandal. Where is the common sense?

"Some of the clubs behind us have done nothing for 20 years, yet suddenly they get a lot of praise. I don't understand. We have eight games to go and are in a position to fight for the championship, so let's give the maximum. If we are disappointed at the end then okay. Why do you say it's a disaster when we are second in the league? Do the 18 clubs behind us have a fantastic disaster?

"If I cannot defend the fact that we are second in the league and fighting for the championship then I should stay at home, but I am in a fighting job.''

Well said indeed and the Prof certainly has a point. Being second in the toughest league in Europe without spending heavily is indeed an achievement.

But it seems strange and a bit sad that Wenger's settling for second place. There was a time when Arsene Wenger's Arsenal were an untouchable force. Remember the 2003/04 season when they won the title without losing a single game the entire season?

Wenger has every right to put on a positive spin on yet another disappointing season and it may at least inject some confidence into his team, which delivered yet another sub-par performance last weekend. But even second place at this point is not guaranteed and if it weren't for Chelsea's own variation of the art of self-implosion, Wenger could have ended up extolling the virtues of being in third place instead.

If the Arsenal side that won the 03/04 Premiership were called "The Invincibles," an apt label for his current squad would be "The Team That Almost Could." Yes, "almost" because every season this squad makes a promising run for the league title (and the various cup competitions) only to end the campaign empty handed.

But, as Wenger would probably say, "almost" is better than nothing.