Arsene Wenger says he has feelings of regret and guilt that his Arsenal side allowed Leicester City to win the Premier League title last season.
The Gunners finished as runners-up – their best effort in 11 years – but with the Claudio Ranieri’s side causing such a major shock, Wenger is still having trouble accepting that his team could not take advantage of the fact their traditional title rivals were floundering last season.
Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all endured troubled campaigns, with Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham emerging as the primary challengers to Leicester during the title run-in.
As he enters the final year of his Emirates contract, Wenger revealed that Leicester’s success is something of a sore spot.
“Certainly, all the big clubs, we experienced that season regret and a feel of guilt,” he told Sky Sports.
“Guilt because you want to predict who would win the league and you would not have included Leicester so everybody else would say we should have come in front of Leicester.”
Leicester lost just three times in 38 games – two of those defeats coming at the hands of Wenger’s side – and yet they finished ten points clear of Arsenal when all was said and done.
The Arsenal boss paid tribute to Ranieri and his men for what he conceded was an outstanding season.
“They had an exceptional season and exceptional quality,” he added. “They were absolutely, remarkably consistent.”
Wenger meanwhile refused to be drawn on whether this season will be his swansong as Arsenal boss as he approaches 20 years in the dugout, stating only that he would carry on ‘as long as I have the physical potential to work.’
Arsenal are 7.00 to give Wenger a fourth Premier League title triumph this season.
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