Arsene Wenger feels today's trip to Chelsea will provide the perfect test by which to measure Arsenal's recovery
Arsene Wenger feels today's trip to Chelsea will provide the perfect test by which to measure Arsenal's recovery. The Gunners head to Stamford Bridge on the back of seven wins from eight games, which has moved them up theu00a0 Premier League table, to the top of their Champions League group and into the last eight of the Carling Cup. Red hot streak: Robin van Persie (right) celebrates with Theo Walcott
during Arsenal's win against Sunderland recently. PIC/getty images
Wenger, though, also knows full well that hard work could be severely dented with a poor away performance tomorrow lunchtime. "First of all a win would of course install us among the top teams in the league, but what is very important is that it would strengthen the belief inside the team and would continue our progress," said the Arsenal manager.
Arsene Wenger
"I feel we are getting stronger and Chelsea is a big testu00a0-- a test of strength, of resolve, of commitment, and that is what we expect tomorrow." Wenger had used his address to yesterday's shareholders Annual General Meeting to launch an impassioned defence of his young team, calling on the fans to stay united behind the board's vision for success.
"I just spoke honestly about how I feel about the situation inside the club and how I feel the team is," he said. "Of course you could feel concern among our fans with the start to the season we had. There are worries and I just wanted to promise that we would give absolutely everything to continue our progress and our improvement.
"I feel that is happening and I feel there is a deep desire within the team." Arsenal could close to within three points of the top four with victory tomorrow, and Wenger accepts Champions League qualification is the "minimal target". However, the Gunners boss also refused to throw in the towel on the title itself just yet. "Of course at the moment we are far from Manchester Cityu00a0- 12 pointsu00a0-- so today we have to get back to a shorter distance before we can say we will fight for the title," Wenger said.
"What is important for us is to first get back in a fighting position closer to the top." The Arsenal boss added: "Who would write off the title after nine games? People who do that have nothing to do in this job if you don't believe that you have a chance. But we have to be realistic, we are not in contention for that. "No team has won the championship after nine games. It is impossible, no matter how much you know football, to predict who will win the league after nine games."
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