Wenger - Cup concerns could affect title race

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal



This season’s title-winners could be the team who copes best with the rigours of the FA Cup and Champions League, according to Arsène Wenger.

Arsenal kept pace with Manchester United at the top of the table with a 3-0 win at Fulham on Saturday. It was an important return to form after, in the manager’s words, “they lacked edge” in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham a week earlier. Perhaps focus is hard to find right now given that Arsenal are juggling two domestic cups plus their League commitments — and that massive tie with Milan is less than a month away.

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After the win at Craven Cottage, it was suggested to Wenger that, because it was so tight at the top, the games between the leading contenders would decide the title.

“It is a bit early for that,” he replied. “It depends also how the teams will do in the FA Cup and Champions League, how much strength will they lose? What kind of injuries they will have? So it is too early to say, but certainly these types of games could be the deciders.

“What is interesting now is we have 54 points, Manchester United have 54, Chelsea have 50. The race looks to be very exciting and very interesting. Last year at that period we were not in the race - this year we are highly in the race. And we really want to do it.”