Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes as many as six or
seven teams could win the Premier League this season.
Wenger's side entertain fellow title contenders Liverpool
at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening and start the weekend top of the
table, with Liverpool just two points behind in third.
Results earlier in the day may see others leapfrog them
but Wenger is unfazed, insisting there is a long way to go before the main
frontrunners emerge.
"We want to be, and I think we are, title
contenders, and Liverpool as well," he said.
"You have four other teams certainly, or five, who
will be title contenders this year.
"It is a big game for us, massively important, but I
don't worry about where the teams are (in the table).
"Between the team who is 14th and the team who is
eighth, there are two or three points. At the moment, the table has no real
significance."
Wenger tried to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez during
the summer transfer window, after Arsenal triggered a release clause for the
Uruguay international.
But Liverpool refused to sell the player and Wenger was
coy regarding any continuing interest, concentrating on Olivier Giroud's
contribution instead.
Arsene Wenger claims Arsenal are genuine title contenders
but thinks up to five teams can win the Premier League this season.
Wenger said: "He plays for Liverpool tomorrow. What
is important for me is the players who play for Arsenal really, not those who
could play for Arsenal.
"What is very important is the players who play
against Luis Suarez. That is what is important for me, 24 hours before the
game.
"I believe Giroud has proven since the start of the
season that he's an exceptional striker and I'm convinced he will be up for it
tomorrow to show that again.
"Giroud is a real centre-forward who uses his power
- he is really central. Suarez is more a player who goes on the flanks and is
more a dribbler."
Wenger continued: "I think our target is to have the
ball and master the situation because we are dominating and we have more of the
ball than our opponents - and if we have the ball a lot we do not need to worry
too much about our opponents and that will be the target tomorrow."
Wenger maintains his squad are determined to show their
title aspirations are not unfounded with an impressive display against the
Reds, as they look to avoid what would be a third successive home defeat
following the Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund and so maintain
momentum with a return European tie in Germany next week ahead of the trip to
Manchester United on November 10.
"It is an important period of course, but I am quite
confident and am quite relaxed because I have the complete confidence that we
will deal well with it.
"I take it as an opportunity to show our strengths
and I am completely sure that the players will be up for it and take this
opportunity.
"We are a very stable team who, since January 1, has
taken more points than anybody else.
"I learnt a lot about my team through the spring
period when we had our backs to the wall and had to win every single game. I
know how strong these guys are and how much they want it."
Culled from skysports
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