Jamie Carragher delivers damning verdict on Arsenal’s title hopes

Arsene Wenger has said he will be busy in the January transfer window as he seeks reinforcements to keep Arsenal top of the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger last guided Arsenal to the Premier League title in 2004.

The Emirate stadium outfit are top after their 19th league game with 39 points, level with Leicester City, but three points clear of Manchester City and four ahead of Tottenham.

“I play football not to only enjoy it – and I love the challenge of playing and competing with the best players – but I want to have the chance to win games. That’s our target, and knowing that the Premier League is an extremely competitive league, and looking at the results around you, of course you know that you need to put in the effort to be competitive in every game”, the 66-year-old added.

His team have been top on New Year’s Day three times in the last 14 years, only to see their title hopes fade on each occasion, but Wenger feels that the current crop have what it takes to go the distance.

“But Man United had huge potential over the years and we played Liverpool at a time when they had Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano in the middle of the park”.

With a squad still suffering the effects of injuries to key personnel, Wenger has also been linked with moves for the likes of former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez and Victor Wanyama of Southampton.

‘You question our mentality, I don’t. The title goes to the team at the top of the standings at the end of the season and I am confident Arsenal will still be on top when that time comes.

Wenger’s side have grown stronger the longer the season has gone on and it would be a major surprise if they failed to record a fifth win in six league games against Steve McClaren’s struggling Newcastle. “It looks like he has always played here for us… how quickly he became comfortable inside and important inside the team, is incredible”. We have chance and we want to fight for it.

“I’m already busy and I said already one month ago we are a bit short to deal with all the competitions we face, especially in midfield”.

This must mean that Wenger believes there is a bright future for players like Joel Campbell who is now in the form of his life and Yaya Sanogo who is presently on loan at Ajax FC.