Wenger issues title rallying cry to Arsenal after back-to-back defeats

Arsene Wenger has said his players must not believe the Premier League title race is over, despite their substantial deficit to runaway leaders Chelsea.

Wenger’s men lost 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, completing back-to-back defeats after a 2-1 reverse at the Emirates Stadium against Watford four days earlier.

As a result, Chelsea are nine points clear of Arsenal’s second-placed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the top, and 12 ahead of the Gunners, who are fourth.

However, despite critics and pundits writing off another Arsenal title challenge, a defiant Wenger has promised his side will not adopt a defeatist mentality.

Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“It’s never over – we cannot behave like that,” Wenger said. “Even if you think it is, I don’t. We cannot even think like that.

“We look at the teams around us and we’re all in a pack that is very tight, where the fight for every position will be massive like it has always been in the Premier League, maybe even more this season than ever before.

“The way we respond to our disappointing result last Saturday is vital. If it is over for us, it’s over for everybody else.

“We are all together in a pack there, so first we have to focus on staying at the top, then if we can reduce the distance between us and Chelsea after, you never know.”