- Title: Title Chelsea's to lose - Wenger
- Date: 30th December 2016
- Summary: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER, SAYING: "It will be of course vital (fixtures over the Christmas period) but at the moment Chelsea is the super favourite because they have made quite a big difference (at the top of the table). But it is theirs to lose as we say here in England, they can still lose it. At the moment they have won it but they can still lose it because it is a long way to go and very difficult for everybody so the head-to-head will have a vital importance." NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER, TALKING ABOUT CHELSEA, SAYING: "They have re-addressed well their problems and you have to give credit to Conte, to find a solution that advanced well his team and of course as well they bought (David) Luiz who stabilized their defensive record and overall they have been the team that is most consistent until now." JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER, SAYING: "We have moved our level up but we are in the middle of the championship and overall it was a very promising Premiership with the best managers of the world all in the Premier League, who are competing and it promises to be an exceptional year and until now I think it was disappointing on all levels." JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER, SAYING: "Because we have not produced the games - the Premier League has not produced the games - that are remembered and I am convinced that the second part of the season the level and the spectacularity of our league will go up but we have some responsibility to do that, to achieve that." JOURNALIST WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER, TALKING ABOUT CRYSTAL PALACE, SAYING: "Look, overall when you look at their squad it is a talented squad because they have potential going forward, they have potential on the break and they are very versatile because they can be good in the air with (Christian) Benteke. Benteke is as well good technically. They can be quick in transition with with (Andros) Townsend, (Wifried) Zaha. So, overall, I believe that in the last game they played in their midfield with (Mathieu) Flamini, (Jason) Puncheon and (Yohan) Cabaye - they have experience, they have technical quality. It is a team that can be dangerous for everybody." CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER, TALKING ABOUT MESUT OZIL, SAYING: "He is of course a huge player. I have always defended him here in press conferences because I believe that he has improved his commitment, physically he works much harder than people think he does. But as well, this season, he has scored more goals and personally I believe he creates more chances for himself than ever before because he runs more behind. I still think there is a gap between his potential finishing and the way he finishes you know? In training he finishes much better than in the games and I am convinced that his percentage of finishing will go up in the coming months and he can have a huge contribution, not only through his passing but as well through his finishing." WENGER WISHING JOURNALISTS HAPPY NEW YEAR AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 14th January 2017 11:07
- Keywords: Arsene Wenger Arsenal Crystal Palace Mesut Ozil Chelsea Conte
- Location: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON COLNEY, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0015F2R51B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Arsene Wenger admitted on Friday (December 30) that Premier League leaders Chelsea are in the driving seat as the season nears the halfway stage.
Chelsea, led by Italian Antonio Conte in his first year in charge, have opened up a six point gap at the top of the league after 15 wins from the first 18 games of the season.
Arsenal meanwhile are further back in fourth, nine points off the lead.
Wenger believes the title is Chelsea's to lose and was full of praise for Conte's work so far this season.
"At the moment Chelsea is the super favourite because they have made quite a big difference (at the top of the table). But it is theirs to lose as we say here in England, they can still lose it. At the moment they have won it but they can still lose it because it is a long way to go and very difficult for everybody," said Wenger, who is in his 20th year in charge of Arsenal.
"They have re-addressed well their problems and you have to give credit to Conte, to find a solution that advanced well his team and of course as well they bought (David) Luiz who stabilized their defensive record and overall they have been the team that is most consistent until now."
Wenger was also surprisingly critical of the level of quality across the Premier League this season, widely lauded as the most entertaining division in the world.
With high-profile managers such as Conte, Pep Guardiola, Juergen Klopp and Jose Mourinho taking charge of the country's top clubs, Wenger said he had expected higher quality matches during the first half of the season.
"We have moved our level up but we are in the middle of the championship and overall it was a very promising Premiership with the best managers of the world all in the Premier League, who are competing and it promises to be an exceptional year and until now I think it was disappointing on all levels," said Wenger.
"Because we have not produced the games - the Premier League has not produced the games - that are remembered and I am convinced that the second part of the season the level and the spectacularity of our league will go up but we have some responsibility to do that, to achieve that."
Wenger's words could be seen as a challenge to Chelsea to expand their playing style in 2017.
Conte's men are on a 12-game winning streak that has seen them concede just two goals, with four of the victories coming by a 1-0 margin.
For now, Wenger needs to concentrate on his own side's form, with a London derby against Crystal Palace coming up on New Year's Day.
Arsenal will hope to continue their 22-year unbeaten home run against 17th-placed Palace but Wenger is aware of the threat posed by Sam Allardyce's men.
"It is a talented squad because they have potential going forward, they have potential on the break and they are very versatile because they can be good in the air with (Christian) Benteke. Benteke is as well good technically. They can be quick in transition with (Andros) Townsend, (Wifried) Zaha. So, overall, I believe that in the last game they played in their midfield with (Mathieu) Flamini, (Jason) Puncheon and (Yohan) Cabaye - they have experience, they have technical quality."
"It is a team that can be dangerous for everybody."
Palace drew their first match under Allardyce last time out with Watford but the former England manager will be looking to turn around their fortunes in 2017. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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