Arsenal's up and down season the 'strangest' for manager Arsène Wenger The intensity of the Champions League qualification race has increased as Chelsea have ploughed deeper into the competition. Having experienced a Champions League play-off with Udinese at the beginning of this season, Wenger wanted to avoid another at the beginning of next. Now, if Chelsea beat Bayern Munich, fourth will not even be good enough for that. Still, to be in this position would have appeared scarcely credible back in October and when Arsenal were hammered 4-0 by Milan before going out of the FA Cup to Sunderland three days later, it looked like their season might crumble for a second time. In that context, rallying the team to this position has been one of Wenger's most impressive achievements as Arsenal manager. What was interesting this season was the mental quality, it was one of the best I've seen. Secondly the team has grown in quality during the season and the results in the second half have been much stronger. Overall, the exceptional season of Robin van Persie kept us above water. Scoring more than 30 goals is something exceptional. On a daily basis it was a very enjoyable season. Even in the dark times as there is no worse situation than when you feel the players are not focused and not united or on board. I always felt during the season the team was united and ready to fight. So on a daily basis that is what you enjoy the most. After the dreadful start, Wenger admitted he was "under more public pressure than before" but that it was nothing compared to the pressure under which he had placed himself. "Amazingly, I suffer more from my personal pressure," he said. At the bleakest moments it appeared that Wenger might be considering whether he still had a long term future at the club. One particularly reflective interview he gave to L'Equipe in November suggested he would review matters at the end of the campaign. "I think about my future every summer and this year will be the same: how we can improve, how we can change," he said. We face tough competition. Look at what Man City have spent, have you analysed their wage bill recently? You have to be realistic. Being realistic does not mean being pessimistic. While the "basic target" is Champions League qualification. If they finish today in third, it will be their 15th consecutive season in the competition. With that secured Arsenal can start looking at what is "realistic" for next season. They might even be optimistic.