By James Dall Last updated: 21st March 2008
Wenger: Believes
We know the outcome of the championship will be down to the direct confrontations between the top teams
Arsene Wenger
Quotes of the week
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would be surprised if his side were not crowned Premier League champions if they finish the season having lost just one game.
The Gunners have suffered defeat in just one of their 30 league games this season - a 2-1 loss at Middlesbrough in December.
However, Wenger's men have slumped in recent weeks - drawing their last four league games - to allow Manchester United to surge three points clear at the summit.
But ahead of their Grand Slam Sunday clash against Chelsea, Wenger still believes his side are capable of lifting the league title for the first time since 2004.
"I feel that since the beginning of the season we have been the most consistent team," the Frenchman said.
"We have lost just one game, and that was under very special circumstances, so that consistency will come out for good at the end of the season.
"If we win our big games and if we continue to be consistent then I am sure we will finish in front of the other sides.
"I cannot imagine we will lose the league if we have lost only one game at the end of the season.
"We have got the strength of character to win the title, believe me. That is my firm belief and at the game on Sunday you will see.
"Since the first day of the season I have said that I believe in this team, come back in May and we will speak about it then.
"There's always a first time and until you win people have doubts about you, they're questioning you - but the strong ones keep going.
"On Grand Slam Sunday all four teams have a very good reason to try and win the game.
"When we go into this game, we'll know the result of the United game against Liverpool - that could even increase more the pressure on the game.
"But the mental strength we have in my squad, and the hunger that's in there for us to do well, I'm sure will come out in the final sprint.
"We know the outcome of the championship will be down to the direct confrontations between the top teams.
"Chelsea will not be completely out of it if they lose, but of course it would be a blow to them."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
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