Wenger insists: We proved you all wrong by getting title bid back on track

20 January 2010 02:02
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's title aspirations will gain 'credibility' if his side can top the Premier League table with a convincing win over Bolton.[LNB]Defeats against Manchester United, Manchester City, Sunderland and Chelsea before the end of November led many to discount Arsenal. But despite long-term injuries to the likes of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, Wenger's side have put together an eight-match unbeaten league run, dropping just four points.[LNB]If Arsenal beat Bolton by two goals or more they will lead the title race for only the second time this season, albeit having played a game more than pacesetters Chelsea.[LNB] Wenger: hoping to guide his Arsenal side to the title[LNB]Wenger's side have not topped the table since the first week of the campaign, when a 6-1 win at Everton put them top on goal difference.[LNB]The Arsenal manager (right) said: 'Everybody wrote us off and we are back in it. We have won nothing yet but we have won some credibility.[LNB]'However, that is not enough. We want more but at least we are in a position to fight for it and have a go. That's what we want to do but we know as well that there's a long way to go.[LNB]'But it gives us a lot of credit - to the players as well - that, despite all that has happened, we are still there. When you are such a young team that is something very interesting to have.'[LNB]Bolton boss Owen Coyle, whose side were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday, said he hopes Wenger's team take the title - after a positive result for Wanderers.[LNB] Easy does it: Cesc Fabregas puts Arsenal on the way to victory at Bolton on Sunday[LNB]Coyle said: 'For me, you have to recognise that Chelsea and Manchester United are good sides, but the purist in me? Yes, I would like to see Arsenal win it. They play the way I like to see football played.[LNB]'The way they pass the ball ... they don't play in straight lines. They pop up in different areas that can hurt you.[LNB]'When you think of the fluency they had at the start of the season before the injuries, they looked superb. Then you had people writing them off. They were 11 points behind at one stage and they weren't so much written off as totally dismissed.[LNB]'Their position now speaks volumes for the way Arsene has galvanised them now they are through the injury situation they had with some of their top players.[LNB]'The purist in me would see a lot of merit in the way they play and gain success, and that success is deserved for the way they go about it.'[LNB]ARSENAL (probable): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Merida, Fabregas, Diaby, Rosicky, Eduardo, Arshavin.[LNB]BOLTON (probable): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson; Cohen, McCann, Taylor, Lee, Davies, Klasnic.[LNB] Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool on alert as Huntelaar looks to quit AC MilanCoyle ready to revive pursuit for Wilshere as Bolton boss eyes recruitsARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail