Arsène Wenger has rounded on the Arsenal fans who feel he has failed this season by accusing them of treating him like a murderer. "When you look now at people assessing the situations of the clubs, it has become ridiculous," Arsenal's manager said. "You sit here, you are in the last four in Europe, and every day you feel you have killed someone. It is unbelievable. If you do not take a distance with it, you think: 'What kind of world do we live in?'

"We lose against Man United who have 10 times more resources, it's not a shame. They are the best in the world. Congratulations to them. If you play tennis tomorrow and you lose against [Rafael] Nadal, you can still say you are a good player." Wenger has grown increasingly weary of the negativity at the Emirates Stadium which, he stresses, is in stark contrast to the attitudes of the club's travelling support. "There is a massive difference between the away fans, who are absolutely fantastic, and the home fans," he said.

A section of the home crowd have booed Arsenal players at various junctures of the season – namely Emmanuel Eboué, Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor – and Wenger wants not only greater support, but for them to see the bigger picture. To his mind the "failure of the season" was the team's inability to deliver a performance in the home leg of the Champions League semi-final against United, which they lost 3–1. But he believes their recovery from a dreadful start to the season — they lost five of 14 league games before going 21 without defeat in the competition — has been "amazing".

"For me, it's one of the best seasons for a long time considering where we were in November," he added. Moreover, he wants the fans to acknowledge how the club have coped with their move to the Emirates and, in the process, set themselves up for a secure future at the highest level.

"It's not like we lost against Cardiff in the FA Cup, we have lost against Chelsea in the semi-final and we have lost against Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final," Wenger said ahead of today's Premier League fixture against United at Old Trafford. "It hurts, believe me, but it's not like we have lost against nobody. I believe as well we have to keep a little bit of common sense. Our average age in midfield is 22. Normally, you play not to go down in the Premier League with a team like that."

Wenger appears certain to be chased by Real Madrid again this summer but when asked whether the supporters' criticisms were trying his patience, he answered: "Frankly, I can take it with the needed distance. I look in the mirror and think 'Have I given everything, have I done the maximum?' and that's it. I believe this club is in a fantastic situation. You look at the shape of the club, the financial situation, the quality of the squad. I'm pretty envious of this club if I'm on the outside."