Arsene Wenger believes it is paramount for Arsenal to beat the teams challenging for the title as he prepares his side to face Chelsea on Sunday (Arsenal 19/5 to beat Chelsea).
The Gunners are desperate for some sort of silverware this term, having not picked up a trophy since doing the double in the 2004-05 season, and they face their toughest test of the campaign to date with a trip to Stamford Bridge (Arsenal 7/1 to win FA Cup).
The north Londoners have enjoyed a good start to the season but are already four points behind league-leading Chelsea after a shock 3-2 defeat to West Brom last weekend.
The Blues are tipped to win the Premier League this season, with Manchester United as their nearest challengers, but Wenger maintains that his young side can have a say in proceedings.
Arsenal failed to take a point off both Chelsea and United last season and the French tactician believes that the only way to win the Premier League is by beating the biggest teams around.
“The only team I have seen win the Premier League without winning the big games is Manchester United,” he said. “It is vitally important to win the big games.”
And Wenger is glad that he will take his side to Stamford Bridge with Carlo Ancelotti’s men having been brought down to earth with defeat to Manchester City last weekend.
“It is easier to play Chelsea on Sunday when they have lost two games than two weeks ago, that is for sure,” he added. “Every defeat makes you just a fraction smaller.”
The Emirates club began the season with a creditable draw against Liverpool before three straight victories against Blackpool, Blackburn and Bolton.
Sunderland managed to hold Wenger’s men to a draw at the Stadium of Light but it was the defeat to the Baggies last time out that sent shockwaves through the Premier League as the west Midlanders were 3-0 up at one stage.
The Gunners will have to do without captain Cesc Fabregas, centre-half Thomas Vermaelen, keeper Manuel Almunia and forwards Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie for the daunting clash in west London.
Didier Drogba is enjoying another superb season for Chelsea (Drogba 7/2 to be first goalscorer) and he will be hoping to keep up his good form on Sunday but Wenger does not believes that his men should concentrate all their efforts on stopping the African star, as Chelsea have so many options going forward.
“I feel we should not make an obsession of one player of Chelsea because they have a few players who can score goals against us,” he added. “What is important is that we have the ball, that we dominate the game and that we are efficient defensively.”
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