Arsene Wenger is insistent that the Premier League title race is far from over. Many pundits are suggesting that Manchester United will continue their excellent form and secure the title in the coming months. Then, should they slip up their main challenge will come from Liverpool and Chelsea.
However, Wenger does more than suggest Manchester United are by no means certain of winning the league. He says that ‘five or six teams’ could still emerge victorious and other than the top three, this includes Aston Villa, Everton and Arsenal themselves.
The Arsenal boss believes that the run-in will be ‘much tighter than people expect’, with there being plenty of time for twists and turns in the remaining 16 games. This may well be the case Arsene, but Everton for the title? Are you serious?
In answer to this question – no he isn’t. Realistically, Everton – who are 14 points behind Manchester United – cannot win the Premier League and Wenger knows it. By saying they shouldn’t be ruled out, he is actually talking up Arsenal’s chances of success.
Arsenal are five points ahead of Everton, so if Wenger believes the Toffees can win the league, he obviously believes Arsenal still can. I find these comments slightly bizarre to be honest.
Wenger has always defended his team and promoted their chances of success in all competitions, but has he taken it too far with this latest outburst? Mind games are all well and good, but when it is as blatantly obvious as this that you are trying to stir something, I’m not sure it works.
It isn’t just the title race that Wenger has been talking about though. He has also claimed that no-one is guaranteed a Champions League place as yet. The Frenchman says that he ‘does not understand’ why everyone presumes that Chelsea and Liverpool will finish in the top four this season.
Again, this is a comment which promotes Arsenal’s chances more than anything. Wenger clearly believes that his team have been written off too soon and is making his point by saying how other teams could still slip up. Interesting tactic – I hope it works!
Anyway, onto more immediate issues. Arsenal face ‘title contenders’ Everton at Goodison Park tonight and there is no getting away from the fact that it is a massive game for both teams.
A win for Arsenal would increase the gap between them and 6th place and perhaps more significantly it would keep their recent good form going. Wenger’s men are unbeaten in eight games and are turning in much more professional performances with the win at Hull City being an excellent example of this.
Everton are a decent side though and will be a very tough nut to crack. The football odds slightly favour an Arsenal win, but everyone knows it could go either way.
Should the three points be achieved, it would be a fantastic and extremely important result for the Gunners. It would be made even more valuable if Middlesbrough managed to get something at Stamford Bridge and Wigan grab a decent result at home to Liverpool.
A win for Arsenal could also mean that Wenger rules out Everton’s title bid for this year!
By Thomas Rooney – A sports writer who blogs about football betting
Arsenal News 24/7
