Arsenal foster Champions League hopes

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his team are back in contention for Champions League qualification ahead of their visit to Wigan.

After suffering a poor start to the English Premier League season, including an 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, Arsenal have since embarked on fine run of form to sit just three points back from fourth-placed Newcastle.

They are up against Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday, where Wenger will be looking for his team to extend their six-match unbeaten run in the league.

“The whole view is that after a bad start we are back in contention to fight for the Champions League places,” Wenger said, referring to the top-four finish Arsenal have become accustomed to during the French manager’s tenure.

“We’re not at the moment (challenging) for the championship but our target is to get back into that position.”

“For the rest it looks like there is a group of seven or eight teams who will fight until the end for the championship, with Man City looking like the favourites at the moment. But it’s early in the season.”

Arsenal were held 1-1 at home to Fulham last week, the first time they had failed to win in five league matches.

“We have to continue our good run we have at the moment,” Wenger said.

“We had a disappointing draw last week and we want of course to come back and continue our run.”

Wenger’s side have come away from Wigan with some disappointing results in the previous two seasons.

They gave up a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 in April 2010, effectively ending any faint hopes they had of challenging for the title.

Arsenal suffered a similar fate last season, conceding a goal in the final 10 minutes to draw 2-2.

And this time Wenger is determined his team will not return from their journey north with the same regrets.

“(Wigan) came back twice in games where they had always shown spirit and quality,” he said.

“Their pitch has always been difficult in winter but let’s hope this time it will be alright.”

“They play good football … so it is always a difficult game for us, but this year we have no choice – we want to win and take the three points tomorrow.”