Arsenal sit second in the Premier League table and are ten points behind leaders Chelsea, whom they entertain at Emirates Stadium this weekend. With only six games left to be played, there is only a little that the Gunners could do to pip their city rivals for the title. However, Arsene Wenger is still unwilling to give up on the title race as he claimed that Arsenal lifting the Premier League trophy is still mathematically possible.
Chelsea have often been tagged a side, who are unwilling to add beauty to their football focusing only on the result and while speaking to the press, the French manager seemed to have taken in indirect dig at Jose Mourinho branding Chelsea a defensively strong side besides lauding their consistency.
a Look, mathematically it will be possible, yes, but Chelsea has their future and the championship in their hands. We can get closer and we have an opportunity to that at home and want to take it.
a They have been very consistent until now. They have lost less than any team. The Premier League rewards consistency. On that front they gave been defensively very strong and consistent.a
Arsene Wenger, despite his accolades, has never been able to register a win against any of the Jose Mourinho teams in his twelve attempts, but he insisted that he had been close to victory in most of the games and added that his history with the Portuguese manager would not have any effect on the result given the form that the FA Cup holders are in.
a I think we have not always lost in 12 attempts. We have been close, Wenger said. ‘Having said that, the result on Sunday will just be down to the performance on the day. We are on a good run and we have an opportunity at home to beat them and we want to take it.
a We have a good run of form and good belief and solidarity. We have passed many tests recently when we were questioned. We have another test on Sunday that we want to pass. Chelsea’s strengths are they have been very efficient on counter attacks and set-pieces as well. We have to nullify their strengths.a
The 64-year-old manager refused to comment on his relationship with his counterpart on the opposite dugout this weekend and added that football must garner the attention and not the relationship between the managers.
a I do not want to talk about that. What is interesting for people is when the game starts at 4pm we have a great game. It is not about the relationship between the managers.a
A win over the Stamford Bridge outfit will cut the difference between them to seven points with only five games left to be played. Arsenal claiming their first Premier League title in more than a decade seems totally improbable, but Arsenal supporters can keep their faith on two words – mathematically possible.