I heard many times that Arsene lifted Gooners’ expectations so much that now he is criticized for drought. But this notion means that Arsenal was not an ambitious club in pre-Wenger era.

Arsene Wenger was hired as an Arsenal coach in October 1996.
Up to 1st August 1996 the Big Four clubs won:
Man United - 35 trophies
Arsenal - 28
Chelsea - 5
Liverpool - 48

Arsenal and Man United had won the league title 10 times each.
Liverpool – 18
Chelsea – 1
(A full breakdown can be seen here)

14 years later up to 1st August 2010 the Big Four clubs won:
Man United - 57 trophies
Arsenal - 39
Chelsea - 21
Liverpool - 58

Man United and Liverpool won the league 18 times each.
Arsenal -13
Chelsea – 4
(A full breakdown can be seen here)

So in fact 14 years ago “not ambitious” Arsenal was almost even with Man United in total and exactly even in league titles. Now there is a wall of partition between “ambitious” Arsenal and Man United. And Chelsea is impetuously covering the gap between us.