Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted on Monday his Premiership leaders would not become complacement in their quest to bring the title back to Highbury.
Last weekend’s 2-1 win against Charlton left Arsenal nine points clear of Chelsea and champions Manchester United.
But last season Arsenal squandered a seven-point lead to help give United the title and Wenger is determined there will be no repeat performance this term.
”I don’t need to remind the players about last season because what you feel in your body or in your soul is stronger than any speech,” Wenger told the Arsenal website.
”We were hurt last year but I don’t think we were complacent. Manchester United were on an outstanding run and that can happen in football,” the Frenchman said.
”They were on a run from December. They just kept winning and that’s why they won the title.”
However, this season it is Arsenal who have been on an amazing run, Wenger’s men still unbeaten in the league with victory over Charlton their 27th Premiership game without defeat and seventh victory in a row this campaign.
”We look to be on a run now and we want to keep it going and remain unbeaten because that cements the team’s strength and belief as well,” said Wenger. ”But it is precarious. It was very tight last year and it can become very tight again this year.
”What is important is what we do here, not what other people say. We are intelligent enough and focused enough to know that.
”The players are happy when they extend the lead, they want the lead to be as big as possible. It is a good lead, it is great to be in front but the players know that it is not over.
”They were exhausted and relieved when they came out of the game against Charlton. There was no sense of triumph at all.”
On Saturday, FA Cup holders Arsenal travel to Premiership rivals Portsmouth for the quarterfinals of this season’s competition as they bid to become the first team in history to reach four successive FA Cup finals. — Sapa-AFP
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