Wenger - This is a low

Wenger: Tough at the top

We have to gain that little bit that changes you from winners into losers.

Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

• Arsenal

Also see

• Arsenal v Reading preview
• Premier League preview
• Arsenal forum

Arsene Wenger has described the past week as the worst seven days in his time in charge of Arsenal.

The Gunners boss saw his side narrowly lose to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on 8th April and then last Sunday's defeat to Manchester United in a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford effectively ended Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions.

Arsenal, who have also been unsuccessful in this year's Carling Cup and FA Cup, led the top-flight for a large part of the first half of the season and Wenger admits he has found it tough to accept the way his side have slumped in the closing stages of the campaign.

"It is the lowest week I have had here," Wenger - who took over the Arsenal hot-seat in 1996 - told Sky Sports News. "But it is a good opportunity to show we have strength and commitment and that we care about this club.

"We were very close to challenging in the Champions League and if we had won at Manchester United we would still have a very strong chance to win the Championship.

Stagnant

"That is a year's hard work. To lose everything in four or five days is very difficult to take."

But Wenger insists Arsenal, who have not lifted a piece of silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2005, will learn from their shortcomings as they prepare for Saturday lunchtime's visit of Reading - a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.

"We want to finish well and there are 12 points to go for and we could make 83 points and that would still be good progress," added Wenger.

"I feel overall we have made good progress in this season but we stagnated when it mattered, which is down to different circumstances.

"But we have to gain that little bit that changes you from winners into losers."