The Frenchman takes the Gunners to Birmingham on Sunday where a win will leave his side on 86 points, only four fewer than last year when they won the Premiership title.

And Wenger says that Arsenal's mid-season wobble will pay dividends as it forced him to blood youngsters such as Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Philippe Senderos.

"We have lived a little bit in the shadow of last season," said Wenger. "It seems that everything we did last season was perfect and everything this season is not.

"We had 90 points last year. If we can finish with 86 this season I do not think we will be as far off as people think.

"Certainly the difference in publicity is not justified given the number of points between the two years.

"We would only be four points off and we have scored more goals. Also, I feel we have played some games recently that were better quality-wise than last year. We have played great football.

"For a while we were shaky after the defeat to Manchester United. I realised we needed a wake-up call because we were slowly dropping off the top. We had a difficult winter where we made some good results without being really convincing.

"It was an opportunity for the young players to show how good they are. Now the team is growing again and the young players have improved tremendously."

Arsenal will take on Birmingham without Lauren (food poisoning) and Gael Clichy (foot) is still out, meaning Kolo Toure may be switched to left-back.

Freddie Ljungberg is available again after undergoing an operation on swollen glands and is likely to be given 45 minutes to prove his fitness ahead of next weekend's Cup final against Manchester United.

Thierry Henry returned from a groin problem as a second-half substitute in Arsenal's 7-0 rout of Everton and came through unscathed. The 27-year-old is set to feature against Birmingham.