Wiltord: Says Gunners shouldn't settle for second-best in the league (CliveMason/Allsport)

Wenger held a crisis meeting at the club's Hertfordshire training ground to cement the bond among his players in the wake of last week's exit from the Champions League.

But Wiltord has followed his team-mate and countryman Patrick Vieira in suggesting that the season has, so far, been one of failure and disappointment by Arsenal's standards.

Wiltord said: 'The most important thing is always the Premiership and when you see that Manchester United have had at least a 13-point lead since December it's not good. That leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

'We knew we had to make up for that in the Champions League or the FA Cup. But even that's not enough. Patrick was not wrong to be so irritated.

'If we don't win the FA Cup, the season will have been terrible. It will have been a failure. That's clear. Arsene Wenger talked to us about that. He said that to us in the meeting.

'There's an enormous amount to do here.'

Vieira suggested after last Tuesday's away goals defeat by Valencia in the Champions League quarter- final that Arsenal needed to reinforce the playing staff this summer to compensate for a gulf he feels has still not been filled since the departure of Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars.

Despite the close bond with his France midfielder, Wenger has since made it clear that stability and continuity are the keys to Arsenal making up ground on United next season.

In a bid to stop any rifts, Wenger spoke to his squad late last week but Wiltord clearly feels Vieira was on the mark with his comments. He said: 'Like Patrick Vieira, the coach was very disappointed about what happened in the Champions League. He wants us to stick together and for the team to keep the same structure. He wants to keep the same habits that come from playing together.

'You can never be sure that is the best way to proceed. But it is a plus. It certainly counts to have a team who play together all the time. As proof you have to look at the results of United and Bayern Munich.

'Next in line comes talent. If you are looking at that then United have more.'

Team- mate Martin Keown wants to return to the England side for the vital World Cup qualifier in Greece in June.

Keown, who captained the side in Finland in October, has not played since being omitted by caretaker Peter Taylor for the friendly in Italy and then picked up a knee injury.