Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal’s pre-Interlull 3-0 victory against Manchester United has strengthened his squad’s belief that they can mount a serious title challenge.
After a sluggish start to the season the Gunners have risen to second in the table, just two points behind leaders Manchester City.
Reflecting on how tight things are at the top – only six points separate Manuel Pellegrini’s side from tenth place Liverpool – the boss stressed that his player’s must match the standards reached in their last league outing if they are to maintain momentum.
“We are in the fight, that’s what we want,” he told his pre-Watford press conference.
“I believe we have the potential to do it. That’s what we want to show. We had some turning points in the history of the club; we had the financial potential to fight for the title when I arrived. When we moved into a new stadium, we had not the financial potential.
“For the last two and half years we are back in the fight because we can get the best players. We are back and capable to fight to get the best players.”
He continued: “I think the Man United game can increase the belief and hunger of the players.”
“The top eight can compete for the Premier League. It is difficult to rule anybody out.
“You can compete for the championship if you turn up and fight for every game. We need to show the same quality.”
Wenger’s words are echoed by keeper Petr Cech. Speaking to Premier League World the Czech international touched on the importance of consistency.
“You judge the team at the end of the season not in the middle. You need to be consistent throughout the season to get points on the board every time you play.
“We need to avoid games where we don’t turn up or we don’t keep the discipline as high as we have to.
“We always have three or four very good games and then one where things are not really happening the way we like. We need to avoid that.
“During the course of the season you need to be consistent to put a run together and try to avoid dropping points easily.”
Great manager, hope he starts to get the trophy rewards he deserves now he has suffered the pain of the new stadium and has money to spend on an already v promising team.
Agreed. Many rival fans, pundits (ex-players who are sore still from the drubbings from the team this Man coached) and even some of our own fans repeatedly beat him with an unfair stick.
The team can only perform consistently at a high level if the manager is able to acquire quality players, which he was financially handicapped by the team. And yet he does the job well by ensuring we are still in the top 4, yet he gets slaughtered for it?
*handicapped by the stadium
But it has been three years that he’s been telling, I have the money to spend if a player can improve the squad, True for Ozil, Sanchez and even Gabriel. But this year…the DM to supplement Coquelin? the title-winning striker ?
“the title-winning striker”
Who?
Exactly.. who? That is the question to ask. In Benzema, Wenger threw in a bid of 50M yet Madrid did not baulk. Benzema was also not interested. So there was no way we could of gotten him. Section of the fans were clamouring for Cavani, yet that guy’s goal returns aren’t any better than Giroud yet he plays in a softer league compared to ours. It’s easy to say throw cash for a world class striker, but there are few and the ones who are good aren’t interested in moving or their owners are interested in selling no matter the… Read more »
Cavani is a better than Giroud and would’ve been a massive upgrade on what we have.
Not saying we should’ve smashed our wage structure for him, but to say he’s not an upgrade over giroud is very laughable. Scored 32 goals last season while playing on the wing and has been scoring consistently now that he plays as a cf.
It’s a different case to say Wenger wasn’t interested or psg didn’t want to sell, but Cavani is definitely a better player than giroud.
“Even some of our own fans”? Try countless of them. I spent (too many) years trying to reason with those dim cunts (and I’m being very kind here). This now remains the only AFC online gathering I can stomach.
And love Cech’s influence. Top keeper and top guy in the dressing room. Best in the PL and probably the world overall.
Less talk more wins please!
Press Conferences will a drag for the jounalists
Assuming you mean that they’re ‘a drag’ for the hacks, think how much of ‘a drag’ they must be for AW. A room full of dim-wits trying to ask the same question twenty different ways waiting for a reply that they can then manipulate and try to beat him with, just to generate a few more click/papers sold.
You didn’t mean winning a press conference, did you?
Gosh, this was just a press conference…let the weekend roll
What do you expect them to tell?
“No comments, no questions – We will play” IS THAT IT?
It’s all about belief. I saw Atletico Madrid wrestle the title from two more illustrous rivals two seasons ago just because they believed they could.
It doesn’t matter how stocked City, United and Chelsea may be; we can win the title if we believe.
“All things are possible to him who believes.” I believe.
In the words of Hank Hill, “Believe to achieve”
I just pray to Christ that we can say the first few games constitutes this season’s “slump” and the Manc game is the catalyst for a serious, maintained season. Beating Citeh last year has lost some of its gloss because of our bad start to that season (upon reflection)
*in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice* “Get to the title!”
The same voice that will break out a earth rattling “FUCK YOU ASS HOLE!” over the PA next time Mourinho and his loser team visit the Emirates.
If Mourinho is still the manager then! Tricky games against Villa, West Ham, Stoke(away) and Liverpool to come!
I hope Moronho is still the manager then. That’s my visit to London for 2016 – home vs. Chel$ki on January 23, then hopefully a League Cup semi-final and an FA Cup fourth round match as well.
I just want to see that utter cunt trudging unhappily down the tunnel ten minutes before the end of a 6-0 Arsenal win, right after Costa and Terry are sent off, and right before I go to the post-match party at the Tollington and hear that the cunt has been sacked.
There’s no doubt we are good enough to at least challenge for the title. If key players stay fit, and we can be more consistent then we can win it. Unfortunately as Wenger said we always have that odd game where we don’t turn up and we need to avoid that. Our performances are usually so good or so bad that we go back and forth from believing we can win the title to our fans wanting the manager out.
Precisely…. just when you’re about to throw in the towel and finally join the “Wenger Out” lot, he throws you a curve ball and you believe again. Then just when the team has convinced you we’re gonna win the league, a devastating defeat brings you crashing back down to earth. And repeat. I have been suffering from this oscillation for many years.
I think this season, much like most seasons, our success will depend on if we can keep our injuries at bay. We have a deep squad which helps (/is necessary) but the key to consistency is fielding a consistent team with your best players in it. Keep the players fit, we can build momentum, we will be unstoppable!
I would seriously consider making Petr Cech captain of this team. I know there is a pecking order but since Mert has been one of those whose ability to grind out results on a bad day is in question, I would give it to stopper in chief. Mert has qualities but there’s too many mistakes which may well lead to Gabe nabbing his place soon
We have heard this talk before. Action speaks louder that words!
I hope we can go on an undefeated run.We do have the quality in the team
“You can compete for the championship if you turn up and fight for every game”
Wenger really should pass comment on Chelsea as much.
i read the other day that the benzema deal could of cost 91 million over a 5 year deal i thought WOW do we really need to spend that much on 1 player (unless Ronanldo or Messi)but then i read shittys financial reports and even after the bilions spent and probably some dodgy deals on sponsors they have shown a profit so did they buy the 2 titles you could argue they bought the best players because they had the financial muscle, so should we have concluded the benzema deal Hmmm tough call. some fans will never appreciate what AW… Read more »
Can we use some of that £91m to buy some punctuation?
warning! Grammar Police!!!!
Warning! Lazy or ignorant.
I’m confused. Should I like or dislike your post.
On one hand I agree with everything you said, but on the other, I really don’t rate Benzema that much. Maybe he was overshadowed by Ronaldo, just like our Ozil. But he doesn’t have that X factor Alexis has. Even Walcott would be more electrifying than Benzema.
The interlull came at the worst possible time. Usually I respect the promoted teams and I like arsenal to treat them with respect etc etc. however if arsenal were to destroy Watford by 5 or 6 it would send a message and I would be very aroused.
We need a healthy mix o Confidence and Consistency..and pray the injury gods let us be forever..
Who needs a top striker from elsewhere, we have our own Theo Walcott! Sanchez, Giroud, Ozil ,Ox and Ramsey will also contribute to goals this season for sure (not forgetting Welbz and Wilshire if and when they get fit) I’m a happy Gunner! COYG!
They talk and talk… You know what I believe? The difference between mounting a challenge and actually winning is in these words: They BELIEVE to have the POTENTIAL and WANT to show it and want to AVOID not showing up for games, blablabla. They always the option for excuses open. They don’t seem to think they’re there yet but feel to the need to try and get there… It’s like trying to be confident and actually being confident. When you are confident you stay that way even when faced with a challenge or a setback. When you try to be… Read more »
I like how he mentioned Pool at 10th then said later top 8 can win the league
XD
Nice dig.