Nigel Winterburn says Premier League is Arsenal's priority
Monday 19 October 2015 15:03, UK
Arsenal's starting XI at Watford suggested the Premier League is Arsene Wenger's top target this season, Nigel Winterburn says.
The Gunners face a key Champions League game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, when a third straight defeat in the competition would leave them facing a group-stage exit for the first time in 16 seasons.
But Wenger did not tinker with his side at Vicarage Road, starting the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla in a 3-0 win.
Arsenal's manager said in the build-up to the game that a convincing win would be the best way to prepare for Bayern, but Winterburn told Sky Sports News HQ the team selection suggested a first domestic title since 2004 is the priority.
"Maybe he believes his team is capable of challenging for the Premier League," said Winterburn, who won three league titles with Arsenal and is fifth on the club's all-time appearances list.
"That's the competition he always talks about as being No 1 because it's consistency over 38 games. The Champions League is very important, but if you could give him one over the other, I'd say he would take the Premier League."
Three times in recent years - in 2008, 2011 and 2014 - Arsenal have been top or within four points of the leaders in February only to fall away in the final months.
This time around Wenger's side are two points off the lead after nine games and have more Premier League points in 2015 than anyone else but, according to Winterburn, Arsenal cannot say they are genuine title challengers unless they are still on the premises come April.
He said: "I believe Arsenal have got the squad, on the second half of last season's form, to challenge for the title.
"A title challenge is either leading or being within three or four points of the leaders in April. That's a title challenge, not in January and February.
"Whether Arsenal are good enough to go on and do it...I'd love them to be there to see what happens, put the players under pressure to see if they can cope, but there are other teams that people will say have got stronger squads."
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