The Gunners head into tonight's showdown with fourth-placed Liverpool facing a second season without a trophy.

For a club of their stature, with a new, 60,000-seater home, Wenger admits "we expected better".

However, given all the success the Frenchman has brought to Highbury over the past decade, he feels everyone must continue to pull in the same direction.

"I have shown a lot of stability and resistance to movement and [loyalty] to the club as well. It works on both sides," said the Gunners boss.

"If we had won the Carling Cup this season, it would not have been a great success.

"You want to be as good as possible in every competition and then you judge the global reward by the way you play and compete in the championship.

"I agree that we were not good enough and I have to stand up and take responsibility for that.

"We have a good basis and I feel we have a good chance to compete for the title next year.

"Our record overall is not bad. We have not got a bad defence, and not got a bad attack - but also we were not outstanding anywhere.

"To win the league you need the team to be on top - and that is what we did not have this season."

Wenger added: "We expected better. There have been factors, we have had many offensive players out and all our experienced players basically have been out.

"We have beaten the big teams and we have lost against the smaller teams who are not fighting for the championship.

"We are a young team who can beat everybody, but can also lose against everybody

"I feel we are at a stage where we need to be strong and give our team support, patience and belief.

"We have fantastic ingredients and we have a strong belief in them. That will decide the future of the club.

"There is a lot waiting to blossom. We are at the stage in the life of the club where we need to give them support and believe in them."

Speculation continues over the possibility of a foreign takeover at Arsenal.

Earlier this week, American company Kroenke Sports Enterprise, who already have an "innovative strategic relationship" with the north London club through Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids, issued a statement stressing they had no intention of taking an active financial interest.

Arsenal are now the only Champions League team still in British ownership, but Wenger sees no cause for alarm at the continued rumours.

"It does not worry me at all," he said. "Apart from speculation, you do not know how much truth is in there.

"At the moment it is true that the shares move and they have risen a lot - but that is more to the credit of our policy.

"You look at the level of the shares 10 years ago and where they are today, you can be quite proud of the increase."

Manchester United are now in the control of the Glazer family while American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks have just led a successful takeover at Liverpool. Randy Lerner bought out Aston Villa during the summer.

Wenger believes the changes behind the scenes should provide for a more "interesting" championship race in the future.

He said: "Do you think Lerner comes in at Aston Villa to finish 12th? Why would an American invest in an English club and not want to challenge for the title?

"You will have more and more people who want to compete and that will make it more interesting."

Wenger, however, does not feel the destiny of this season's Premiership crown is a foregone conclusion.

He said: "I am not completely convinced Manchester United will win the title because they are only six points ahead and they have to go to Chelsea. Anything can happen.

"If they draw against Blackburn and Chelsea beat Watford, it is only four points.

"Then the next game can be the decider.

"It is very open, but maybe they can win it by 10 points."

Arsenal may have already secured two wins at Anfield this season - in both cup competitions - and turned the Reds over 3-0 at Emirates Stadium during November, but Wenger is taking nothing for granted tomorrow.

"I have a big respect for the club because they are maybe the club who more than any other in England represent consistent results and loyal support," said the Gunners boss.

"When we won 6-3 with young team they chanted 'You'll never walk alone' - and that is maybe the only ground where you see that in England."