Arsene Wenger insists there is always reason to question himself and look for improvement, even though he stands on the verge of completing 1,000 games in charge of Arsenal.

The 64-year-old Frenchman, appointed in late September 1996, will reach the personal landmark at Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, when the Gunners will be out to close up to within a point of the Barclays Premier League leaders.

Wenger has seen and done it all since arriving at Highbury as a relative unknown coach some 17 seasons ago, but the Frenchman insists the desire to better himself burns as fierce as ever.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

"You learn from every game," Wenger said on Arsenal Player.

"You learn more from the lost games than the games won. Certainly because you go into deeper analysis, you question yourself more, you question the players more and you learn basically the most from the higher the level goes up, the more you see the limitations of your team and your players.

"You learn the most in the biggest games when the pressure is there, when the talent is against you and when the pace of the game is at the top, top level. This is where you learn."

There is genuine belief 2014 could finally be the year Arsenal are able to end their trophy drought, which is now fast approaching a decade, with an FA Cup semi-final against Wigan next month.

Wenger, though, does not intend to allow himself much time for nostalgia, with a special presentation understood to be planned for training on Friday as he aims to keep Arsenal in the title hunt.

"It makes you feel 'where did the time go?'. It looks to me like I started yesterday, I can't believe it is such a long time," the Gunners boss said.

"Why? Because you're always focused on looking forward to the next game and when you look back you think 'I made quite a distance there'.

"Despite that, your only interest is the next game, our drug is the next game, the hope for the next game, the desire to win the next one. You go step by step and finally when you look back it's a long time.

"I would just like to say for me it's an honour to manage a club of this dimension for such a long time, and I would like to thank everybody who is involved in the club for giving me such a confidence for such a long time."

Shape Created with Sketch. Arsene Wenger's worst signings XI Show all 11 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Arsene Wenger's worst signings XI 1/11 Richard Wright After impressing at Ipswich, Wright was signed in 2001 as the heir to David Seaman's No 1 shirt, but his time at Highbury was remembered for error after error, and he was eventually usurped by young Stuart Taylor 2/11 Oleg Luzhny Known as "The Horse" for his galloping runs, but played like he was wearing blinkers. Joined from Dynamo Kyiv in 1999 3/11 Igors Stepanovs Tried to marshal the Gunners against Manchester United at Old Trafford in disastrous consequences, the team conceding five before half-time and memorably losing 6-1. Latvian signed from Skonto Riga in 2000 4/11 Sebastien Squillaci French international joined for £4m from Sevilla in 2010. Made 39 largely woeful appearances for the club, and left on a free last year 5/11 Andre Santos The least said about Santos the better. Wenger said the "quality" left-back had "Champions League experience" when he was signed from Fenerbahce for £6.2m in 2011 but he had yet to play even in the full competition. Was he even talking about the same player? 6/11 Junichi Inamoto The Japanese midfielder joined from Gamba Osaka in 2001, in a move that was portrayed as a cynical marketing ploy for the Gunners to tap into the Far East market. The doubters had a point, he failed to make a Premier League appearance for the club before leaving to join Fulham a year later 7/11 Amaury Bischoff Wenger admitted he had taken "a gamble" on signing the injury-hit Portuguese midfielder in 2008. The gamble didn't pay off - he only played one Premier League match for the Gunners before leaving the following season 8/11 Gervinho He may now be setting the world alight for Roma in Italy, but the Gervinho at Arsenal was a different beast - one that could not cross or shoot, and confused himself when he was running with the ball 9/11 Park Ju-Young Park who? I hear you cry. Despite scoring on his debut, the South Korean striker only ever made seven appearances in three years at the club. He is now paying his trade on loan at Watford 10/11 Marouane Chamakh The Moroccan target man joined from Bordeaux with fine Champions League pedigree. Unfortunately he did not ever get close to replicating this for the Gunners 11/11 Francis Jeffers The "Fox in the Box" was not a wily signing for £8m. He scored eight goals during his time at Arsenal, meaning every goal he scored set the club back a cool £1m 1/11 Richard Wright After impressing at Ipswich, Wright was signed in 2001 as the heir to David Seaman's No 1 shirt, but his time at Highbury was remembered for error after error, and he was eventually usurped by young Stuart Taylor 2/11 Oleg Luzhny Known as "The Horse" for his galloping runs, but played like he was wearing blinkers. Joined from Dynamo Kyiv in 1999 3/11 Igors Stepanovs Tried to marshal the Gunners against Manchester United at Old Trafford in disastrous consequences, the team conceding five before half-time and memorably losing 6-1. Latvian signed from Skonto Riga in 2000 4/11 Sebastien Squillaci French international joined for £4m from Sevilla in 2010. Made 39 largely woeful appearances for the club, and left on a free last year 5/11 Andre Santos The least said about Santos the better. Wenger said the "quality" left-back had "Champions League experience" when he was signed from Fenerbahce for £6.2m in 2011 but he had yet to play even in the full competition. Was he even talking about the same player? 6/11 Junichi Inamoto The Japanese midfielder joined from Gamba Osaka in 2001, in a move that was portrayed as a cynical marketing ploy for the Gunners to tap into the Far East market. The doubters had a point, he failed to make a Premier League appearance for the club before leaving to join Fulham a year later 7/11 Amaury Bischoff Wenger admitted he had taken "a gamble" on signing the injury-hit Portuguese midfielder in 2008. The gamble didn't pay off - he only played one Premier League match for the Gunners before leaving the following season 8/11 Gervinho He may now be setting the world alight for Roma in Italy, but the Gervinho at Arsenal was a different beast - one that could not cross or shoot, and confused himself when he was running with the ball 9/11 Park Ju-Young Park who? I hear you cry. Despite scoring on his debut, the South Korean striker only ever made seven appearances in three years at the club. He is now paying his trade on loan at Watford 10/11 Marouane Chamakh The Moroccan target man joined from Bordeaux with fine Champions League pedigree. Unfortunately he did not ever get close to replicating this for the Gunners 11/11 Francis Jeffers The "Fox in the Box" was not a wily signing for £8m. He scored eight goals during his time at Arsenal, meaning every goal he scored set the club back a cool £1m

Former France international Robert Pires was part of Wenger's all-conquering 'Invincibles' team which won the 2003/04 league title undefeated.

The 40-year-old, who is training at Arsenal's Hertfordshire base to maintain fitness levels, would view the opportunity to work alongside Wenger once again as "a dream".

Speaking to IBTimes UK, Pires said: "I have not spoken to him about that because he has recently appointed another former Arsenal player Steve Bould to assist him, but for me it would be great.

"Coaching with Wenger is a good opportunity to learn. In the future you never know."

Wenger's contract is set to expire in the summer, and although the Arsenal board are understood to remain relaxed about the situation, there has as yet been no confirmation either way of the manager's intentions.

Nevertheless, Arsenal have continued to sign up key men on new deals, with midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla the latest to put pen to paper.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny recently agreed a new long-term contract at Arsenal.

The 23-year-old, who came up through the club's youth ranks, cannot ever see himself leaving - and would fight for the gloves ahead of any reported summer interest in Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Szczesny said to Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy: "If they give me a contract to the end of my career, I would sign it without any hesitation.

"I feel attached to the club and the coach who has given me a chance.

"I will play at Arsenal as long as am wanted here. I am not afraid to fight for number one with anyone: (Arsenal number two) (Lukasz) Fabianski or Casillas.

"I hope I won't make the boss think, 'Wojciech's not number one'.

"It is all in my hands. I am in the best form of my life."

PA

The best league in the world is back. Join The Independent for an online event, as our panel discusses the most uncertain start to a season in Premier League history. Click here to find out more and book your free ticket today.