Wenger still believes Arsenal are in the title race

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger still believes that his team are in with a chance of winning the Premier League title

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his team are still in with a chance of winning the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners have fallen down the league table in recent weeks, after a heavy defeat at Chelsea and a disappointing draw against Swansea.

Arsenal face a vital clash with title contenders Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening, with even their place in the four now being questioned.

Coming first

Wenger still believes that coming first place in the Premier League is still his clubs target. The veteran French boss told Sky Sports: “There is no other priority other than coming first, that is still our target.

“Champions keep going when everybody else would give up. We have an opportunity to show that we have that mentality. If people say Everton can catch us then we can catch the teams above us. We have not given up, believe me. It’s our attitude tomorrow which will show that.

“It is the next game that is of course very important, and the next game is of massive importance because it is Man City and they fight at the top. They are the favourites with Chelsea and Liverpool, but when you play one of the favourites, you have an opportunity to shorten the distance to them.”

Six points

Mr Wenger is correct the Gunners are just six points behind Chelsea in the table. The problem lies in the fact that Arsenal are currently injury-hit, especially in midfield and face a City side that has not conceded in their last four top-flight outings.

The Citizens suddenly look like a team that could go on and win those all-important games in hand to win the Premier League title. They are a team that are playing with a swagger and defending like their lives depend on it.

Threat

Fifth-place Everton on the other hand face a trip to rock-bottom Fulham on Sunday. The Toffees have won four top-flight games on the trot and look in determine mood. By the end of the weekend that gap at the top of the table between Chelsea, who play Crystal Palace and Arsenal could be nine points.

More importantly the gap between the Gunners and Everton could be just three points, as Wenger’s side visit Goodison Park next weekend. Roberto Martinez’s side also have a game in-hand on the team from north London.

Six points does not seem like a lot, but if results go against the Gunners next weekend’s game against Everton could be a crunch game.

Tough

One factor that is against Everton is the fact they have to face Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United at home. However, the Toffees have suffered just one defeat in their last 25 home Premier League games.

The Toffees have also won their last eight games at Goodison Park in all competitions, so there is no guarantee that Martinez’s men will not claim victories in those tough games.

Slip-up

Anyway back to Arsenal’s title challenge. The Gunners will need the three teams above them to slip-up majorly in the next few weeks to make up ground on them. It now looks like a very tough task for Wenger’s men.

The race for the Premier League title is now very much out of the hands of the Gunners. Chelsea, City and Liverpool are definitely better positioned to claim the title at the end of the season, than Wenger’s men. Arsenal are now odds of 100/1 to claim the Premier League title. I think that says it all Mr Wenger.

Consolidate

Looking at the bigger picture it is more likely that the Gunners slip-out of the top four than it is for the team from north London to win the Premier League title. Arsenal just have to keep going and attempt to consolidate at least their position in the Champions League spots.

If the teams slip-up above them, then maybe they can capitalise, but I think Mr Wenger may just be clutching at straws claiming that the Gunners aim is still to finish first in the table.

Can an under-strength Arsenal team defeat Manchester City on Saturday?