ARSENE WENGER is not surprised that his Arsenal side are just 90 minutes away from Premiership glory, claiming he knew from the outset of his first full season in charge that he had the basis of a title-winning side. A defence that had played together so successfully for the past ten years provided the cornerstone of his hopes, while the midfield engine room was in the capable hands of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit. Then, of course, Wenger had Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright up front. Apart from the considerable work he has done to change the structure, diet and training regime at the club, the Frenchman realised three things had to change before he could emulate George Graham and bring the title to Highbury for the first time since 1991. As he prepared for Sunday's home game against Everton - when victory will clinch the title - Wenger said: ''We were not very far away last season but we lost all the big games. There were three crucial points this season - to bring in the right players, to create a new balance when we changed the system and then to win those big games.'' He added: ''The reproach that everybody made to us last season was that we lost the championship in games against Liverpool, Manchester United, Blackburn and Chelsea. So we had to change that. The game at Chelsea that we won in September and at home against Manchester United in November convinced the team they could beat the big teams - so it was then down to our consistency.'' A run of eight consecutive clean sheets in league games from the end of January to the start of last month proved that he had a point. The mixture of true British grit and continental class was perfect: ''It was important to keep the spirit of the English approach that was the strength of the squad, but after that the French and Dutch players brought in their quality.'' The extra ingredient has been Wenger's own coolness under pressure. Even now, although huge expectations are weighing on his shoulders with the finishing line in sight, the Frenchman insists he is happy in the knowledge that he cannot ask any more from his team. ''I am quite relaxed because all I can ask is for the players to give their best, to keep their balance and determination and play exciting football and then you accept the verdict,'' he said. The fortunes of tomorrow's two managers could not be in starker contrast. While Wenger's glory mission is almost complete, Everton's Howard Kendall describes the current, relegation-haunted season at Goodison Park as the most difficult of his long managerial career. The trauma of two previous departures from Everton, a relegation shambles at Manchester City to sort out and a strife-ridden Sheffield United to contend with - as well as rough, tough spells in Spain and Greece - all apparently pale in comparison with the headaches he has had on Merseyside in recent months. Champions-elect Arsenal are gearing up to deal the next body blow for Everton but Kendall is defiant: ''People will say it's an impossible task, but that acts as an inspiration to my team. We'll need guts, character and fight, and I've no doubts about this Everton side being able to produce those qualities.'' He believes his team can still survive, perversely being inspired by the fact they are being written off by so many people: "The players' frame of mind is right. All the players here want to be Premiership players next season, just like I want to be a Premiership manager.

HEAD-TO-HEAD Martin Keown v Slaven Bilic   LOOK at the individual statistics of Martin Keown and Slaven Bilic and it's no great surprise that both will be summering in France but it is a bit of an eye-opener to see which one could win the championship on Sunday and which one is hoping to survive in the top-flight. Croatian international Bilic was widely credited with keeping West Ham up last year and it's plain that he's been all over the pitch trying to keep Everton up. That wasn't what he had in mind when he moved north last summer, of course, and he must shake his head in disbelief at the Hammers' challenge for a UEFA Cup place, knowing he could have been an integral part of it. The one area where the man from Goodison Park falls down is discipline. While he has played half as much football again as Keown, four more yellow cards and two more reds are his return for committing more than twice as many fouls as the England man. Had Bilic been available for the whole season, Everton probably wouldn't be in such dire straits but they have no-one of similar class to fill his boots and have suffered as a result. Keown, on the other hand, is part of a team of excellent defenders. His figures when he has played have been good though clearly his instructions are to get rid of the ball to a team-mate rather than try to create something himself. His run of duck-eggs in all the attacking areas is perhaps unique for a player with so much playing time. Yet that has been enough, such is the depth of squad at Highbury. Both men have played massive parts in their teams' positive performances this season but Bilic just has so much more to do than Keown. If they stay up, it will be a massive tribute to the Croat's skills. But he must wish he had a Tony Adams to play alongside or, for that matter, a Rio Ferdinand? Carling Opta statistics are based on analysis of all Premiership matches played this season Keown Bilic Minutes On Pitch 1276 1896 Goal Attempts Goals 0 0 Shots On Target 0 1 Shots Off Target 0 5 Blocked Shots 0 3 Passing Goal Assists 0 1 Total Passes 449 790 Pass Completion % 76 78 Crossing Total Crosses 0 16 Cross Completion % 0 31 Dribbling Dribbles & Runs 10 33 Dribble Completion % 60 97 Defending Tackles Made 49 62 Tackles Won % 59 65 Blocks 13 22 Clearances 164 195 Interceptions 20 20 Discipline Fouls 15 38 Offside 0 0 Yellow Cards 3 7 Red Cards 1 3

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