Wenger nominates 8 clubs to win the EPL

Arsenal’s squad emerged unscathed from the worldwide break, according to manager Arsene Wenger, and could yet welcome back Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini for Saturday’s Premier League match at Watford.

Wenger was referring to Arsenal’s 3-0 demolition of Manchester United in their previous Premier League fixture prior to the worldwide break, and wants his team to repeat that performance in every game this season.

“[Belief] is definitely showing in patches but, more so in the Premier League, it is becoming a regular occurrence”.

Beating your closest challengers is important, but such victories must come as part of a consistent winning run rather than as memorable standalone triumphs.

Arsene Wenger has dismissed as “ridiculous” the suggestion that Arsenal fail to plan for opponents in the mistaken belief that they will always prevail if they simply produce their own best football.

It is 11 years since Arsenal’s last league title, but they have won back-to-back FA Cups and are now second behind Manchester City in the table after a strong start to the campaign. Manager Sanchez Flores has had a good solid start to his time at Watford but this is the first home game against a top four team and will be interesting to see what approach he takes. “I must say we did it. Sometimes within a sceptical environment, and most of the time having to fight until the last minute of the last game of the Premiership”, Wenger said.

But the 26-year-old, who recently committed his future to Watford by signing a five-year deal, does not mind if he fails to score against Arsenal providing his team claim an unlikely three points against Wenger’s side.

History shows that is a big “if”, but I see no reason why they won’t carry their form into tomorrow’s early evening TV game against Watford.

“Chelsea have a few ground to make up”. Urgency is something that keeps you alert and we know what will be expected of us.

Wenger added: “They are progressing well. We have shown in the last three years if the player has the quality, we spend the money”.

“Everyone wants to beat the top teams, they want to prove they are better than you”.