Arsenal suffered yet another blow in the race for Premier League title, after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Swansea City last night. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said in the aftermath that he is more concerned with finishing in the top four than challenging for the title.
Arsenal are 4th in the table with 63 points, three points behind Man City, who have two games in hand.
Arsenal should be concerned with the fact that fifth placed Everton are slowly catching them, with Roberto Martinez’ side just six points behind them, with a game in hand.
The Gunners will play Manchester City at home on Saturday and are yet to face Everton at the Goodison Park.
“The title is not our biggest worry at the moment,” Wenger said, as quoted in The Guardian.
“We just have to try to be realistic and we have to come back in the next game. We have to look behind us. Of course we also have to look in front of us but as well behind us. Everton won [at Newcastle United] so we have, of course, to focus.
“It will be open until the end. We can still have surprises. Manchester City had a good result [at United] … they look a bit unstoppable and they are the favourites because they still have two games in hand.
“Them and Chelsea are the favourites for the title. We don’t have too much room to come back into it. We have to get some players back. It’s difficult to fight with half the team out.”
Wenger however has admitted that lengthy injuries to key players have hampered their season.
With over half-a-dozen player sidelined, Wenger admitted that “it is difficult” to cope up with injuries.
“None of them are close to coming back. Laurent Koscielny is out for a while, after that Mesut Ozil is at least two or three weeks,” added Wenger.
“Ramsey is maybe the closest. Maybe two weeks. He’s had a setback. He’s had some scar tissue, then you have to slow down and the tendon is in a sensitive place. You always have to push but not too far.”
Meanwhile, skipper Thomas Vermaelen, who started in absence of Laurent Koscielny, feels that Arsenal have a big squad and that they can cope up with injuries.
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