Arsene Wenger: Don't rule out an Arsenal title surge... we've done it before

  • Arsene Wenger has not ruled Arsenal out of the title race 
  • Arsenal beat Watford 4-0 on Saturday and will have to win their remaining seven games if they are to have a chance of overtaking Leicester 
  • Wenger has seen his side put runs together in the past to win the league 

Arsene Wenger knows a thing or two about late title surges. In 1998, Arsenal won 10 games in succession to pip Manchester United to the Premier League crown.

Four years later, the Gunners won 13 successive top-flight games to win their second championship under Wenger.

So here we are again; Arsenal require another run of victories to have a chance of winning the title - even that may not be enough.

Arsene Wenger watched his Arsenal side brush aside Arsenal 4-0 at The Emirates on Saturday

Arsene Wenger watched his Arsenal side brush aside Arsenal 4-0 at The Emirates on Saturday

Alexis Sanchez was on target for Arsenal in their 4-0 win and manager Wenger has not given up on the title

Alexis Sanchez was on target for Arsenal in their 4-0 win and manager Wenger has not given up on the title

SUPER STAT 

All three of Hector Bellerin’s Premier League goals have come at the Emirates Stadium. 

On Saturday, they recorded their second successive league win - strolling to a 4-0 win over Watford.


To have any realistic hope of pipping Leicester and Tottenham to the post, Arsenal will need to win their remaining seven games.

Can Arsenal assemble a nine match winning streak? The jury’s out, particularly given the winter slump that has seen their season crumble.

Nevertheless, in their manager, Arsenal have someone who has been there, seen it and done it.

‘To go on a later run, you need to find a team who clicks at the right moment, said,’ Wenger. ‘(For that) Sometimes you have all kinds of reasons: because your injured players come back like [Danny] Welbeck, because of the emergence of some players like [Alex] Iwobi.

‘In 1998 we had a game in hand and suddenly we had a good run. 

‘We played at Wimbledon and the electricity went off, the game was cancelled and we won when it was replayed, we won at Man United, and suddenly everybody thought it was possible. ‘Unfortunately this time we have to fight with two teams. But before we speak about that we have to show we can sustain a strong run.

Back in 1998 Arsenal beat Wimbledon in a re-arranged game to go on a run to win the title

Back in 1998 Arsenal beat Wimbledon in a re-arranged game to go on a run to win the title

‘I feel the technical quality of our game and the pace of our game is good. That's a good basis.

‘We have to be realistic and just prepare for the next game and not dream too much. We have suffered recently and that will help us to keep the focus.’ Arsenal, of course, are relying on Spurs and Leicester slipping up if they are to have any chance of winning their fourth Premier League crown.

The Gunners cut the deficit to second-placed Tottenham to four points on Saturday following Mauricio Pochettino side’s draw at Liverpool.

But will Leicester buckle under the pressure? ‘We will see, we have to focus on our results and then see how far we can go,’ said Wenger. When I say be realistic we have to look over our shoulders as well. Man City, Man United, West Ham are chasing as well.

If Arsenal are to win the title then they will most likely have to win their remaining seven games of the season

If Arsenal are to win the title then they will most likely have to win their remaining seven games of the season

‘We have only one target now. And as well, we always go through difficult periods and in the end the teams who do well are the team who continue to perform and continue to get results even when the period is a bit more difficult. ‘I believe this team has the right mentality. 

'I have had many teams in my life and this team is top quality. They have gone through a bad period but when they play like that, it shows that mentally, they are pure.’ Meanwhile, Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has ordered his side to forget about their forthcoming trip to Wembley.

The Hornets face Crystal Palace for a place in the FA Cup Final on April 24, and Flores added: ‘“It is hard not think about Wembley, it is like fighting against a phantom. ’It is something that is in the air, it’s here, it’s there, it’s up, it’s down, it’s different. It’s a thought. 

'It’s in embodied in the dressing room, embodied in the club. ‘It’s not always players or staff, it’s workers inside Watford. It’s impossible every week to pass through the office and people are saying: “tickets for the FA Cup, tickets for the FA Cup”. ‘And I say: “What happened? We play in the league tomorrow”. It’s not about Wembley, it’s more about the sum of the points we have.’