Believe-they-can-win-premier-league-2C-says-ozil

The German worldwide has been in impressive form for the Gunners this season – registering 15 assists in the Premier League, including two in their 2-1 win over Manchester City on Monday night. Joel Campbell has been impressing in recent games but I think we could see Wenger freshen things up by handing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a start on the wing.

Arsenal now trail leaders Leicester by only two points and have opened up a four-point lead over City, who occupy third place.

“It’s too early to say we can win the league, but it strengthens our belief”, he told reporters.

“We haven’t proven anything yet and we haven’t been that consistent that we can talk about that”, he said after Arsenal’s fourth-straight win in all competitions.

“We do not have all of our players available at the minute so we had to come up with a way to win against City and to trust that way”, said Mertesacker.

Wenger’s injury-hit squad will have to continue without the likes of Santi Cazorla (knee), Alexis Sanchez (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (calf) for the trip, although Sanchez is closing in on his return.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested that Arsenal have been lucky this season to an extent in that teams around them have been poor so far.

Walcott’s stunning effort – Arsenal’s first shot on target – lit up a cagey first period and Giroud neatly converted their second on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts a comfortable cushion.

Arsenal travel to take on 12thplaced Southampton in the league on Saturday.

“Confidence is built up very slowly and goes very quickly, so let’s take care of our next performance”.

With this victory Arsenal also behind Man City in point table.

The last team to lose five or more games before the midway point and still managed to be crowned champions of England were Everton in 1986-87.

The Chilean said: “I think it’s very important to be involved, as we are now, at the end of January”.

“In football you need one guy who gives the ball to the one who scores the goal”, the Frenchman said.

Per Mertesacker believes Arsenal’s newfound tactical flexibility and ability to switch game-plans makes them stronger than in previous years, although the club captain has cautiously insisted that this does not make them automatic contenders for the title.