adminArsenal boss Arsene Wenger is unconcerned by television pundits doubting his side’s title challenge. The Gunners have a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they seek their first title since 2004. Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen are not sure if Arsenal can sustain their bid.But Wenger said: “I’ve enough experience to analyse what we do and how well we play. I don’t need someone else to tell me.”
Wenger claims he is happy to accept those who doubt Arsenal’s staying power, but only if they can support that argument with facts.
He said: “I take anything from anybody. I just try to analyse whether he has a point or not.
“Sometimes it’s just someone saying their opinion without an argument on something that makes sense.
“If it’s something based on hate or love, or just gut feeling then I just say: ‘OK, it’s an opinion. He might be right, he might be wrong.’
“Often he doesn’t sustain his opinion by some work he has done to support that argument.”
But he now believes that Arsenal’s impressive start to the season has forced some critics to re-evaluate their title credentials.
Despite not being one of the favourites at the start of the season, the Gunners have won 10 of their opening 13 matches.
“What is changing are your minds, not ours. Until now I was never asked about the pressure because it was always thought it was an accident that we are top and it won’t last,” he said.
“Now that it’s lasting a bit longer, people start to think: ‘We have to consider them a bit more seriously.’”
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has again made clear that Romelu Lukaku will return to Chelsea for the 2014-15 season, dismissing the forward’s claims he may stay at Everton. The Belgian suggested on Saturday that he would be open to extending his spell at Goodison Park, saying: “I think it’s not a bad idea.”
Mourinho, however, joked: “Maybe there is a new rule in football where, when the season finishes, every player is free to decide his future. Maybe it’s a new rule.”
Mourinho also revealed how Ashley Cole is no longer first-choice – beyond his recent lack of appearances – explaining that the England international must work hard to dislodge Cesar Azpilicueta.
Mourinho is known to have been impressed with the Spanish right-back’s adaptation to the left side. As it stands, it is only squad rotation that will see Cole back in the side.
He said: “I don’t know. But one of these two, yes. Sunderland, Stoke… one of these two matches, I think he will. Or, if I decide not to, next week Steaua Bucharest again. It’s a position where Azpilicueta has played a group of consecutive matches so sooner or later I’ll have to change, so Ashley will play soon.
“I think a left-back with the right foot is not a big problem, really. To defend the inside space, which is important, they are very comfortable. When you play with a winger on the left side, as we do, probably the left-back has also to play with the ball in inside areas, so it’s not a problem.”-Soccernet.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter