Arsenal star declares title chances following victory against Aston Villa

Arsenal host title rivals Manchester City at The Etihad in their next Premier League fixture next Monday.

Wenger admitted a few anxious moments after a 4,000-mile round trip to Athens but a 50th career goal for Arsenal by Wednesday’s hat-trick hero against Olympiakos, Olivier Giroud, and a beauty from Aaron Ramsey eased any concerns. We have eight days to prepare. First we performed under the pressure of a nightmare November to grind out a win over Sunderland and then we put our previous record away to Olympiacos firmly to one side when our backs were to the Champions League wall and we followed that by showing great professionalism to get the job done away to Aston Villa.

The French global joined a magnificent seven of Gunners’ strikers by scoring his 50th Premier League goal in their 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday (Monday NZ time).

“I believe he is at the top of his game and he is questioned sometimes”, Wenger said. Just why there was even a debate about who should play upfront for Arsenal when Theo Walcott was insisting he should play there, I really can’t comprehend. He may not have electric pace and he likes to play with his back to goal, so maybe he isn’t a spectacular individual. He is very efficient and a very important player for the team. “He is also mentally very strong, too”.

“But it is not completely a lost cause”. Every year we have seen teams survive that, before Christmas, everyone was saying they had absolutely no chance.

“Jamie Vardy and Leicester should start getting the respect they deserve after beating Chelsea and continuing their awesome run”.

Villa, on the other hand, are now eight points from safety, and after another meek display have left themselves with a mountain to climb to remain a Premier League outfit next season.

“We can still be safe but we are coming into a period where we have to win”.

“I still believe we are capable of winning the next game. We are struggling, I still haven’t won a game and I’m very frustrated but I know in football you can change things with work”.

Garde admits confidence is a big issue with his Villa players. “The performance is not the one you expected but I never saw a player wearing the Villa shirt that was not proud to do that”.