Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Chelsea can still be caught in the English Premier League title race this season, despite already having a six point lead at the top of the table.
The Frenchman also said that his squad were capable of winning the league before his time at the club is over, having signed a new three-year contract with Arsenal after winning the FA Cup last May.
“You cannot say that [six points] is not catchable,” Wenger said of Chelsea’s lead. “After 13 or 14 games, you cannot say that the title race is over.”
Jose Mourinho’s side have been a stark contrast to Arsenal, going unbeaten in the league this season and opening up a six point lead over second placed Manchester City.
Wenger has had to manage a squad severely affected by injuries, particularly in defence, with Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny missing the majority of the campaign so far.
Indeed, the manager confirmed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Theo Walcott are out of the midweek visit of Southampton, while Kieran Gibbs, Nacho Monreal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Koscielny are all under an injury cloud.
When asked by reporters whether Arsenal could win a title within the next three years, Wenger said he was confident in his squad.
“Of course,” Wenger replied to the question. “We have not started very well but we never had the squad together since the start of the season
“It was a post-World Cup start. I think we have what is requested to do it.”
“We have fought many times for the title. People always remember who won it but the fight has been very tight for long periods in the last eight or nine years.
“We have a big competition in England, we have to accept that. The Premier League level goes always up and this season, Chelsea has started very well.
“They will be difficult to catch but everybody will fight to come back on them.”
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