Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has faced a number of questions on issues and speculation in Thursday’s pre-match news conference. Speaking to the media before Saturday’s late kick-off against Watford, Wenger was asked about the title race.
The top eight can compete. At the moment the top eight can mathematically compete. I would say five or six teams.
London rivals Chelsea currently sit outside the top eight in 16th position after their dreadful start to the season, Wenger was asked if Chelsea were also title contenders.
I don’t know. I don’t care too much about that. My worries are about my team and what we can do.
Wenger then continued, stating that mathematically no one can be ruled out of the title race just yet.
We are two points behind the leaders and what all the other teams do is up to them. What I just want to say is mathematically you cannot rule anyone out at the moment.
Many pundits have tipped this season to be the best chance Arsenal have had in years to win the league. Competition looks unconvincing, and Arsenal proved their title credentials in their 3-0 home win against Manchester United.
At the moment we are in the fight and that’s what you want.
I believe we have the potential to do it and that’s what we want to show now in the coming games.
I’ve been here for 19 years and we had some turning points in the history. When I arrived we had the financial potential to fight for the titles. After, when we moved into the new stadium, there was a period where we did not have the opportunity to fight for the title but we had to work very hard to stay at the top.
In the last two, maybe two-and-a-half years, we are back in the fight because we have the financial potential again to get the best players. When you look well at the last two years, we’ve brought in Ozil, Alexis, Petr Cech. That shows that we are back and are capable to fight to get the best players.
Lastly, the issue of ticket prices has come to the forefront of football in recent weeks. Arsenal have the most expensive tickets in the Premier League, and Bayern Munich fans are organising a protest before Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League game to contest the high price of tickets for away fans.
On the issue of ticket prices, the Gunners boss said that he tries to do what’s best for the fans.
It is my job to do that (offer value for money). Overall I feel that we have made a conscious effort in our board meetings to block the increase of our tickets and in seven of the past 10 years we have not increased our prices.
Overall there is a desire on our board to stabilise and make the tickets more affordable for people. Is football more expensive? Yes, but Saturday or Sunday if you want to go to rugby you will see the tickets are expensive there as well. It is maybe part of professionalism and a modern society.
