Wenger: Chelsea Look Unstoppable

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes no-one is capable of challenging Chelsea for the Barclays Premier League title at the moment.

Wenger saw his side suffer their second league loss of the season with a 2-1 defeat at Swansea on Sunday to leave the Gunners 12 points adrift of Jose Mourinho's men.

And Wenger says he cannot see anyone challenging a Chelsea side who have won nine and drawn two of their 11 league games to date and currently hold a four-point lead over second-placed Southampton.

"Look at the season and Chelsea are on course for 105 points," Wenger said after his side were floored in the final 15 minutes by Swansea pair Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis. Continue reading.....

"Look at the number of points they have today and if they keep that up nobody will touch them, that's for sure.

"It doesn't look like anybody is capable of challenging them at the moment.

"There's no obvious reason, but they have had a good start and as long as you don't lose you don't question yourself.

"Maybe a little bit more extra spirit in the team helps them when it gets tight."

Wenger felt his side had been in control until Sigurdsson's stunning free-kick 15 minutes from time cancelled out Alexis Sanchez's 63rd minute close-range effort.

Gomis, on as a substitute for Wilfried Bony after Swansea had levelled, headed the winner three minutes later to deepen Arsenal's misery after they had let slip a 3-0 lead in their Champions League tie against Anderlecht last Tuesday to draw 3-3 at the Emirates Stadium.

"It was a game we were quite in control of at 1-0 up," Wenger said.

"I think we allowed them back into the game with challenges in the middle of the park that you can't afford to lose and we were a bit on the back foot after that.

"It was unfortunate to lose a game like that. We produced quite a decent performance for 75 minutes, but you have to last 90 minutes.

"Did the game on Tuesday play a part in our mind? I don't think so, I hope not, and you have to give Swansea credit.

"They didn't give up and the free-kick gave them the momentum at the end, we have to take it on the chin because we didn't play for 90 minutes."

Swansea manager Garry Monk hailed the impact of Gomis, who has often cut a frustrated figure since signing from Lyon on a free transfer last summer.

The France striker has been a bit-part player as Bony has filled the central striker role, starting only two Premier League games, with his only previous goal coming in a Capital One Cup tie against Rotherham in August.

"No player's happy when they don't play, but Bafe's been brilliant," Monk said after Gomis had climbed above Gunners defender Nacho Monreal to head the 78th-minute winner and take Swansea above Arsenal and into the top five of the Premier League.

"He's a great guy to have around, he's very much a team man, he puts the team before himself and is very selfless.

"He's been very patient because obviously Bony's done incredibly well for us and has been starting ahead of Bafe.

"But he's done very well in training and got his rewards with the goal, but it was a great team effort.

"The players have got that inner belief and mentality and that's what carried them through through.