ARSENE WENGER BELIEVES it is too early to say Arsenal are back in the Premier League title race, but admits if they continue their current form they could yet challenge the top two.
The Gunners are 11 points adrift of leaders Chelsea despite picking up a 5-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday to record three straight league wins for the first time this season.
Although Wenger does not envisage either the Blues or Manchester City slipping up in their two-way race for the title, he refused to rule his side out of the running if they can maintain their current high standards.
“It’s too early to say that,” said Wenger when asked whether his team were now in the title race.
“We are 11 points behind. That means they [Chelsea and City] need to lose four games and we need to win four. I believe that we should try to be consistent and see what happens.”
Arsenal will be aided in their quest to achieve that consistency by the return of several key men, with Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott making goalscoring returns to the starting line-up, though Wenger believes they still have some way to go before hitting top gear.
“I think [Ozil] still lacks a little bit of competitive edge on the sharpness front, but the quality of his game is exceptional and he is getting back now,” Wenger continued.
“He worked very, very hard physically and he is now ready to play again.
“I still think [Walcott] needs more sharpness and contact [challenges from opponents]. He is a very intelligent player, Theo’s game is about the quality of his movement, where he gets the ball, where he can be dangerous and when he gets in front of goal he can score.”
Ozil arrived late on transfer deadline day in September 2013, but Wenger does not anticipate such activity when the current window closes on Monday. “I don’t think I will be busy,” the Frenchman added. “We have done everything we wanted.”
You had no available strikers and you didn’t go with a False 9? Your status as football hipster is now revoked. Please hand back your copy of “Inverting the Pyramid”.
Into my 3rd season with Southampton…..
2 7th places finishes a cup final and I. Europe…….
Not too bad
Get in Daniel Carr from Huddersfield – Frightening quality and cheap
You’d want to get a wriggle on if you’re going to win the Champions League before Dec 1. If it’s taken this long to get to February in the game you’re either going to have to go all out (take a week off work/family) or concede defeat.
Why don’t we all help Paul with any tips on good affordable signings that he could make to improve his chances. It’s often a case of stumbling across cheap quality signings and sharing the find with friends.
Played 01/02 religously! (Anyone remember Javier Saviola??), i actually cannot play a version from 09 on, seasons take too long and everything became far too complicated. Im playing 08 the last few years, seems to be the last uncomplicated version. Maybe i just cant except change?? Lol.
Saviola was a goal machine!!
How long does a season take in the games these days? I’m a recovering cm01/02 player (kinda like being an alcoholic, although I may not have played today, I know just one match and I’m back to where I started) – was gona buy this but someone said the seasons take ages these days.
Mid-table mediocrity in the Argentine second division is where it’s at.
Try winning it with Limerick FC – took me ten in game years to win! Once you get qualified for the CL you get some good money to invest in players!
Loved the game years ago but had to stop due to losing too many weekends !
Illegally downloading it as we speak, i know miles jacobson wont be happy but i invested all my gaming money on Gta V. Might take on the brighton challenge too, sorry miles i bought every version up until now ;)
Its not illegal at all. The game is so old eidos released it for free. Go to champman0102.co.UK and you can download the game and update the database to the the 2013 season. Has to be the most addictive game ever created
What about Cork?
Da people’s republic is only available as an international side in the newer versions – wouldn’t be able to compete for the champo league with them.
I once won the champions league with dubnica nad chain who were in the Slovak 2nd division when I started with them :)
*dubnica nad vahom…curse you autocorrect!
Curse you indeed!
Nerds
Quaaaaaaaaare
…..says the “Back to The Future Trilogy” fan!!
cm 01/02 won’t work on windows 7 :-(
I tried to play the newer versions but it’s just not the same. Definitely stuck in my ways..
It’s a free download from a message board site, Google champman01/02. there is a way of installing on 7 and it’s on the website. Looks daunting at first but easy to do
It will work on windows 7 fine. After install right click the exe file and in properties change to compatibility mode as windows 98 and set as always run as administrator and it will work perfectly
How does one download it illegally?… Don’t worry I pay all my taxes
When is FM2014 out on android????…just checked play store…no sign of it?
Well at least you’re using FMC so the seasons shouldn’t take too long to do!
I started league 2 with bury won 3 consecutive promotions in the premier league now mid table.