Fulham v Arsenal:Arsene Wenger has described the next 12 days as the "moment of truth" for his team. A trip to Fulham tonight starts a hectic spell for Arsenal during which they also play Tottenham, Porto and Chelsea, and Wenger conceded yesterday the results will define the club's campaign.
Wenger has not given up on winning the title even though Saturday's defeat at Bolton has left Arsenal 13 points off the top with a game in hand. He acknowledged, though, the next three league matches will tell him whether his side are good enough to take the championship.
Tonight's game is followed by a home meeting with Tottenham on Saturday and a visit to Stamford Bridge the following weekend. Between the last two is a Champions League match at Porto that Arsenal must draw to progress in the competition.
"The period that comes up for us is the moment of truth," Wenger said. "Don't hide. In front of the obstacle you must jump. The players are ready to jump - they have a fantastic leap. If they are not (ready) we have no chance to do it." Wenger was more upbeat than on Saturday night, when he appeared to concede the title was beyond Arsenal. "There is no team who you can say is not reachable in England," he said.
A frustration amid so many dropped Arsenal points is he feels the Premiership looks simpler to win than for several seasons. Chelsea have been beaten twice and United have lost at home. "It is much easier this year than last season and the year before, also than when we were champions in 2004, when we did not lose a game," Wenger said.
He admitted his side were making too many defensive mistakes but added: "If this team takes off, we can kill teams by four or five goals." He was adamant he has no regrets about bringing in only William Gallas, Tomas Rosicky, Julio Baptista and the teenager Denilson over the summer. "No, because of what I have and because of what is available to spend," he said.
"For me we have a very good squad and we can play at the top of the league. I don't deny at the moment we don't have enough points but it's not down to the fact I want to buy. I do not want to buy. I want these players to perform and this team to perform at their full potential. I think it's in there and it's down to me and to them to get it out."
Thierry Henry returns tonight after recovering from a neck injury, with Wenger hinting he will revert to 4-4-2.
Fulham's dismal record against Arsenal should make Chris Coleman sick of the sight of Wenger's men but he insists they remain the Premiership's most eye-catching side and is backing them to mount a title challenge.
Fulham have lost all but one of their six meetings with Arsenal since Coleman took charge at Craven Cottage in 2003. They have not beaten the north London club since 1962 and their current aggregate score under Coleman stands at 14-1. "We've played them many times and we've tried everything," he said. "We've tried to play, pass, get stuck in but it never worked. We've beaten Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool but the best we've done against Arsenal was a draw."
