Wenger not happy to win title if Arsenal can’t beat big rivals
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger says he would not tolerate his team losing more big clashes against key title rivals even if they were to win the Premier League by beating lower-ranked sides.
The Gunners went down 6-3 at Manchester City on Saturday, their third league defeat of the season, yet remain two points clear at the top of the table. Last season Manchester United won the title despite losing to top-six sides City, Chelsea, Spurs and Everton, yet despite going nine years without a trophy Wenger is not content to follow a similar path.
“That’s not an example I want to follow,” he said. “It’s not the end of the world [to lose at City] but it’s a big disappointment because when you come into a big game – and everybody wants to play big games – you have an opportunity to show how good you are. And when you don’t do it, it’s a big disappointment.”
But Wenger, whose side face third-placed Chelsea in north London a week today, believes the high-scoring defeat will not damage morale.
He added: “Will it influence the championship? No, because we play against two teams at home now so we have an opportunity to put things right.
“Honestly, if we cannot pick ourselves up by being top of the league, what will happen if you are not top of the league? What is important now is how we respond.”