The Gunners continue their preparations for the new campaign with the Emirates Cup this weekend, which will also features Inter Milan, Paris St Germain and Valencia.

Wenger has been impressed with the spirit the squad have shown during their recent training camp in Austria, as they face up to life without talismanic forward Thierry Henry.

Although they reached the Champions League final in 2006 and the Carling Cup final this year, the Gunners have not been competitive in the domestic title race since finishing runners-up to Chelsea three seasons ago.

The gap on winners Manchester was some 21 points in May - and that is a situation the Frenchman does not intend to endure again.

"An acceptable season is, first of all, for Arsenal football club to fight for the championship," Wenger declared.

"Last year, in the end of October and beginning of November when we were 16 points off the leader, that wasn't acceptable for us.

"I want my team to fight for the championship and to do well in the Champions League.

"Last year we showed in spells - in the Carling Cup - what we could do, but the Carling Cup is not a major trophy. The major trophies are the championship and the Champions League."

Wenger added: "I work very hard to develop this team.

"We knew we were facing major competition in England with clubs who invest a lot of money. We knew we wanted to go a different way and be a little bit patient.

"But, while we have a young team, we have experience. [Cesc] Fabregas has 100 games in the Premiership. I believe we have the quality and we must show it."

Wenger, though, firmly believes his current crop of players have the determination to create their own legacy.

"I must say the desire for success, the hunger for success, the togetherness I've seen during pre-season has been greater than ever," the Arsenal manager added.

"I'm very excited for the new season because what I feel and saw during the camp for pre-season made me impatient to start.

"I'm personally very optimistic because of what I've seen inside my squad."

With the departure of veteran midfielder Freddie Ljungberg for West Ham following the £16million sale of Henry to Barcelona, the squad lost another of Wenger's 'Invincibles'.

Sweden international Ljungberg was somewhat harsh on his former club's policy of not bringing in the experienced, big names which he claimed had been pledged over the past couple of seasons.

Wenger, though, insisted: "I did not make any promises to anybody.

"The company works well when everybody does what he's responsible for.

"The player is responsible for his performance in the team, not the policy of the club.

"I'm responsible for the technical performance of the club, not the financial running of the club.

"No matter how big a player is, he's never responsible for the technical policy of the club."

Wenger added: "Freddie left as well because he decided it was the right moment.

"He was a great fighter for the club and did extremely well. The club did very well for Freddie as well.

"Nobody is here forever - but football is a team's sport. That's something magical.

"The talents we have makes us very optimistic. We can replace these players and the spirit of the team can compensate the quality of the world-class players we've lost."

Wenger's major summer signing was striker Eduardo da Silva.

The Brazilian-born Croatia international is scheduled to feature this weekend - but the club are still awaiting clearance from the Home Office.

"We have a hearing, an appeal on August 2 for his work permit," Wenger revealed.

"Should all go well, he'll be able to play.

"In the first instance, they apply strict rules.

"He has 50% national team games for Croatia, which is a fantastic achievement for a 24-year-old. He's played every game in the last year, so it'll be extremely close.

"There are some signings in England who didn't play even one game for smaller countries than Croatia.

"I'm optimistic that we have a reasonable chance."

Wenger will, however, not take any gambles this weekend.

Gilberto is on leave following his exertions with Copa America champions Brazil, while midfielder Tomas Rosicky is nursing a hamstring problem.

"At the moment, not everybody's match fit," said Wenger.

"But it's a question of days, not weeks. Rosicky, Walcott will be ready for Ajax (the Amsterdam Tournament which begins on August 2)."