Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are back in contention to fight for the Premier League top four but not yet the title.
Arsenal boss targeting good league run to continue
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are back in contention to fight for the Premier League top four but not yet the title.
The Gunners endured a difficult start to the season, taking just seven points from their opening seven games, but have collected 16 points from the last six matches to rise to seventh.
But the Gunners sit 12 points behind leaders Manchester City and Wenger believes it is imperative not to lose further ground, starting at Wigan on Saturday.
The Arsenal boss told
Sky Sports News: "After a bad start, we are back in contention to fight for the championship places.
"Not at the moment for the championship but the target is to get back into that position so we have to continue our good run we have at the moment.
"We had a disappointing draw last week (against Fulham) and we want of course to come back and continue our run.
"For the rest it looks like there is a group of seven / eight teams who will fight until the end for the championship with Man City at the moment super favourite but it's early in the season."
But Wenger insists victory cannot be taken for granted at the DW Stadium, where it has been tough for the Gunners in the past.
"The last couple of seasons, they have come back twice, where Wigan showed spirit and quality," said Wenger.
"Their pitch has always been quite difficult in winter, but let's hope this time it will be all right.
"They play good football so it's always a difficult game for us.
"This year we have no choice - we want to win to take the three points tomorrow.
"Wigan will be good opposition again. For us we just need to focus on our performance and try to win the game."
Catastrophic scenario
If results do not go their way in forthcoming European clashes, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea could all be eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, which Wenger believes would be a bad thing for English football as a whole.
He added: "It would be a little bit of a disadvantage (for Arsenal in the league) but that's a catastrophic scenario for England.
"And that would basically harm our places in Europe for the future, that's what you don't want you know, that you go from four to three (places available in the UEFA Champions League).
"So hopefully that will not happen. Of course the teams like Man United would focus completely on the FA Cup and the championship and Man City as well but let's see what happens, I don't think that will happen."
Meanwhile, Wenger believes having already qualified as Group F winners for the last 16 of the Champions League is an advantage during this crucial month.
The Arsenal boss is expected to give his younger players a run-out in the final group game at Olympiakos.
He told the club's
official website: "It does not define the whole season no, but it is a very important month for us.
"What you forget is that we could have been in a position where we absolutely had to win at Olympiakos to qualify. We have at least achieved one target in the month of December.
"We go to Olympiakos top of the group and completely qualified so we can focus on the Premier League.
"This month we have to dedicate completely to the Premier League and focus on every single game like a cup final."
