Arsene Wenger has dismissed criticism from Unai Emery that Arsenal were on a "downward slope" in 2018 when the former Sevilla coach took over.
Wenger decided to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the 2017/18 season, with Emery taking over following roles in La Liga and at Paris Saint-Germain.
However, he lasted less than 18 months in North London, with the club moving to bring in Mikel Arteta as boss following Freddie Ljungberg's time as interim head-coach.
Emery told France Football that: "Arsenal was a club on a downward slope for two years before I arrived.
"We stopped this fall and even began to rebuild the club with the Europa League final and fifth place in the league, only one point off Tottenham despite the fact that we took just one point in our final five matches.
"We had Champions League qualification in our grasp and it went wrong in the end. But it was a good season and we had this notion of continuing to improve."
However, Wenger disagrees with Emery on a number of points, and stated that despite a difficult 2018, Arsenal were - and still are - in a good place.
"In 2017 we made 75 points and won the FA Cup so you cannot say that [Arsenal were in decline] and the year before [2017] we finished second in the league," Wenger said at the Laureus World Sport Awards.
"2018 was my last year but it is very difficult to come out on that.
"Arsenal is a club that is in a very strong position financially. It has good players, after that when you are a manager you have to stand up for what you do and your result and not look around you.
"That is the only thing you can do."
