Wenger saw big improvement May 03 2008
Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal can take great credit for their progress this season - even if they end up empty-handed again.
The Gunners have seen both their Premier League title challenge and UEFA Champions League hopes fade away over the past two months.
Their domestic challenge could be ended mathematically this weekend, as they currently trail leaders Manchester United and Chelsea by four points with two games to play.
Wenger believes but for some more composure and a slice of good fortune, his side could be leading the charge for the championship and that they have come a long way since the previous campaign, when they were never in the hunt for top spot.
"We have made a big improvement this season," the Arsenal boss said. "We don't think we have been rewarded for the efforts we have put in.
"We have been consistent, losing just three games, and nobody expected us to do that at the start of the year. If we won at Man United, which we could have done, we would be champions.
"You cannot say just these two have been good and the rest are rubbish. It was very tight between the three teams."
Wenger's team host UEFA Cup hopefuls Everton on Sunday, and the French tactician said: "We would like to get to 83 points - that would be a big improvement on last season.
"The championship race was very tight, but we want to focus on finishing well."
Wenger, though, knows the hard work must continue: "The only way to show some quality is over the longer distance. We can all win one game and over six months be strong.
"The manager can show his strengths if he makes stability for eight, 10, 15, 20 years, like (Sir Alex) Ferguson at Manchester United.
"The quality of a club and strength of it is more judged on a longer distance. It is a marathon to lead a club and I believe this particular club has always shown different strengths to other clubs."