By Ed Osmond
LONDON, May 8 - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was
in upbeat mood after his side beat Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday to
virtually guarantee finishing as Premier League runners-up.
Although Arsenal have failed to defend their title for the
third time in Wenger's reign, the Frenchman said he would be
pleased to earn direct qualification for the Champions League.
"After winning the league, finishing second is the most
important position," he told a news conference.
"It gives you a better holiday. If you know you can come
back to a disaster (losing in the Champions League qualifying
round), you don't sleep so well on your holiday."
Wenger was delighted by his team's recent form, seven wins
in eight games moving them six points ahead of third-placed
Manchester United with two games left.
"The team is growing from game to game and we have many
young players who are developing all the time," he said.
Wenger believes some of his side's play has been as good as
anything he has seen in his eight years at Highbury.
"We can reach levels of football we have maybe never reached
before," he said.
Wenger singled out young Swiss defender Philippe Senderos
for particular praise, hinting he could keep fit-again England's
Sol Campbell out of the team for the FA Cup final against
Manchester United on May 21.
"Senderos today was very good," he said. "Sol is fit but has
hasn't played for a long time and he will need games if he has a
chance of facing United."