It has not escaped Arsene Wenger’s attention that the majority of pundits in English football remain disinclined to give much credibility to Arsenal’s chances of sustaining a title challenge. Doubts have been expressed over a variety of subjects.
At first it was a lack of squad strength. Then the notion that they had not played challenging opponents. An overreliance on Olivier Giroud, a worry over when Aaron Ramsey stops scoring and the pressure from not being used to winning have all been trotted out.
Wenger is not averse to taking on board constructive criticism. He is not quite so keen on opinions based on little more than hunches, though.
“I take anything from anybody,” he says. “I just try to analyse whether he has a point or not. Sometimes it’s just someone saying their opinion without an argument. If it’s something based on hate or love, or just gut feeling then I just say: ‘Okay, it’s an opinion – he might be right, he might be wrong’.
“Often he doesn’t sustain his opinion by some work he has done to support that argument. I have enough experience to analyse what we do and how well we play. I don’t need someone else to tell me. I’m not upset by that at all.
“When I arrived here people explained I couldn’t win the title as I am foreign. Everybody has their own logic. I just think you win the title through your quality. If we didn’t win for eight years it is because we weren’t good enough in the important moments of the season.
“We have a good opportunity to show we are good enough, so let’s take it.”
“When you are in the position we are in every game a little bit is deciding our future,” he says. “Hull and Everton are two big home games.”
He is encouraged by a more positive atmosphere around the Emirates Stadium.
“There is certainly more support from the stands than this time last year,” Wenger notes.
“It will be a massive advantage because when we have a difficult patch during a game our fans feel it and support in response. Last year it was moaning when we had a weak period. You feel that.”
Wenger does not think Hull City will be pushovers tonight.
"They have just beaten Liverpool in a very convincing way," he adds. "They look to play in a very positive way, they have nothing to lose when they come to us."
Transfer window
Meanwhile, Wenger is confident Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen will still be at the Emirates Stadium when the January transfer window closes. Vermaelen has made just six appearances for the Barclays Premier League leaders this season, with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker the preferred centre-back partnership.
Wenger is impressed by the way the Belgium defender has dealt with his lack of games.
“It’s tough to leave Vermaelen out because of his quality, his attitude and his influence at the club,” the Frenchman said. “It’s a difficult decision to make because he is a top-class player.”
Full-back Bacary Sagna is missing for tonight’s clash. Sagna has a hamstring injury so Carl Jenkinson is set to start, while striker Lukas Podolksi is expected back in training this week after recovering from his hamstring injury.
Guardian Service
