Arsene Wenger makes ‘very confident’ Arsenal Premier League title prediction | Football
Arsène Wenger believes it is not a question of if Arsenal will win the Premier League this season but when, despite their recent mini-wobble.
Heading into the busy Christmas and New Year schedule, the Gunners hold a two-point lead over a frenetic Manchester City side who appear to have the bit between their teeth again.
Mikel Arteta’s side have dropped points in each of their last three away games, including a defeat against fellow title hopefuls Aston Villa, and only stumbled over the line on Saturday night when they needed a last-minute own goal to overcome bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
The Gunners’ next six matches represent games they failed to win in corresponding matches last season, with Everton next up on Saturday night.
With injuries mounting, Arteta faces a tough task to force his way through the next month, but his former boss is confident the Spaniard is up to the task, even with City breathing down Arsenal’s neck.
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“No, Arsenal will win the championship,” Wenger told AFTV. ” Why do you ask ? We will win the league. Honestly, I’m very confident, maybe it’s because I’m not involved. I am very confident we will win.
“We have a very balanced team, we have a good team attitude. We have the best offensive and defensive potential and in each position we have two players and in some we have three players.
This is a critical moment for Arsenal
Arsenal maintained their two-point lead at the top this weekend, but only just. With Manchester City now looking much more like their old self, the Premier League title race is suddenly starting to take a very familiar shape.
The Gunners’ next six games could tell us a lot about their ability to go the distance this time around, considering they dropped 13 points in corresponding matches last season.
- Everton (against) 1-1
- Brighton (h) 1-1
- Aston Villa (h) 2-2
- Bournemouth (a) 2-0
- Liverpool (h) 2-2
- Nottingham Forest (a) 0-0
“Overall, in the long term, we can withstand all competition.”
Asked if he would attend a possible title party if the Gunners ended their 21-year wait to be crowned domestic kings, Wenger added: “I came back but of course I’m very busy. You know I travel a lot but I’ll try to find a space.
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, urged City to play on their own terms after going down 3-0 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
An equal match was settled thanks to City’s superior finishing as Erling Haaland and Phil Foden tried their luck in either half before Haaland added a late third from the penalty spot.
Guardiola’s side had to fight for victory, allowing them to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal and their energy was impressive in overcoming Oliver Glasner’s high-flying side just days after Wednesday’s victory over Real Madrid.
Who will win the Premier League title this season?
City have now won four consecutive league victories and the manner in which they beat Palace was hugely impressive.
“Always when you go into the game, whoever the opponent is, on your terms, good things are going to happen,” Guardiola said. “It makes no sense to play football without being who you are as an individual.
“We’re still not at the top, but we’re learning. We will be closer in the future. After playing at the Bernabeu, we prepared to face the FA Cup winners.
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