Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: Gunners surge is 'ludicrous'
The Gunners' 4-2 victory over Bolton on Wednesday night, after they had trailed 2-0, was a seventh in the nine matches since a comprehensive 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea left them some 11 points adrift and seemingly well and truly out of the title race.[LNB]However, in the immediate aftermath, Wenger declared his wounded young side would respond and had also seen enough to believe Chelsea were set to drop points.[LNB]Both prophecies have come to pass and, while Arsenal have now played a match more than the Blues and are top only on goals scored, Wenger is in no doubt Cesc Fabregas' team have the spirit of champions.[LNB]"If you keep belief, no matter what people say, it can strengthen the belief in the heads of my players and get them stronger," the Arsenal manager said.[LNB]"But I am very proud of what the players have ached because at the time [after the Chelsea game] it looked a little bit ludicrous to say we would come back. Despite that, the players continued to fight with belief."[LNB]Wenger added: "We believe we have a real chance and I am convinced this team will have a real go.[LNB]"It is very important we keep a good mixture between humility, with our feet on the ground, and of course ambition and desire to win it."[LNB]The next time Arsenal resume league action following this weekend's FA Cup fourth-round ties, when they travel to Stoke on Sunday, Wenger's men will be about to embark on a run of fixtures which is likely to make or break their campaign.[LNB]First up will be a trip to top-six hopefuls and Carling Cup finalists Aston Villa on January 27, with the small matter of a visit of Manchester United four days later.[LNB]The following weekend will see Arsenal at Chelsea, before they host Liverpool on February 10 ahead of the Champions League last 16 clash against Porto.[LNB]Wenger quipped: "After these games, it [title hopes] depends whether you are top of the league on goal difference or if you are 12 points ahead of the second team.[LNB]"We are in a fight where we are at the top of the league at the moment.[LNB]"The real difference is made with the teams you fight against [for the title].[LNB]"Those games have mathematically a much bigger impact on the table than games like against Bolton."[LNB]Czech winger Tomas Rosicky, whose strike at the end of the first half started the fightback, believes team spirit has been key to Arsenal's resurgence.[LNB]"You can see that this team has great mental strength," he said.[LNB]"Everybody knows that the coming weeks are the critical ones in the whole season and this win came right on time for the team.[LNB]"For the confidence of the team, it is absolutely great.[LNB]"The togetherness in this team is very good. If you don't have this, you don't win games like against Bolton and turn them around.[LNB]"It is very important that this characteristic is in the team.[LNB]"But of course we have to carry on because there is a long way to go."[LNB]Rosicky, though, declared: "The other clubs can see that we are there and we want to win it and everybody will have to compete with us.[LNB]"All the other teams can see we are able to do it, and it will be interesting until the very end."[LNB]Defender William Gallas, meanwhile, will not face any retrospective disciplinary action from the Football Association following his tackle on Bolton's Mark Davies, which forced the midfielder off the field with an ankle injury, in the build-up to Arsenal's equaliser as referee Alan Wiley considered he dealt with the incident as he saw it at the time.[LNB]Midfielder Abou Diaby will be assessed after he had to go off last night with a calf problem.[LNB]Full-back Kieran Gibbs, though, is set to miss the rest of the campaign as he needs further surgery to repair a depressed open fracture to his first metatarsal.[LNB]"I am gutted - there is just no other word," the England Under-21 international said.[LNB]"I am now just looking to recover from the injury, work really hard and be ready for next season."[LNB][LNB] Barclays Prem 2009/10 Win Outright: Arsenal 3/1
