Eurosport - Tue, 17 Feb 19:34:00 2009
Arsene Wenger once led team of self-styled invincibles to a season without defeat, but the Frenchman has conceded that Sir Alex Ferguson's current Manchester United side could be the new "untouchables".
United sit two points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand at the Premier League summit, with Arsenal 12 points off the pace in fifth.
Wenger, whose Gunners side went unbeaten in 2003/04, is refusing to give up on having a say in the title race but admits the Reds are currently some distance clear of the pack.
The two-goal return of Croatia striker Eduardo after a year out in Monday night's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Cardiff gave Arsenal fans reason for cheer, but Wenger has warned that long-time rivals United will take some stopping.
"We are on a very strong run at the moment and we have promised to give everything until the last day of the season but at the moment Manchester United look untouchable," said the Arsenal boss.
"They are 12 points ahead of us and they have a game against Fulham which they will certainly win. If they win that they are 15 points in front and that means they need to lose five games.
"Let us say they lose one against us, that still leaves four. They still need to lose four other games, which they haven't done yet this season.
"But our basic target is to get into the Champions League and therefore the championship remains a priority."
Wenger, meanwhile, told Cardiff that the trouncing meted out to them at the Emirates could be a good thing for their promotion ambitions.
The Frenchman believes that talented Championship sides can often get sidetracked in the knockout competitions to the detriment of their league form.
"Look at the table. They are, I think, fourth with a few games in hand. For them it is better they go out of the FA Cup," he said.
"I saw it a few years ago when we battled with Sheffield United when they had (Phil) Jagielka and (Michael) Tonge in a very good team.
"There were seasons when they did very well in the FA Cup and the League Cup and in the end they always failed to come up because it was very demanding to do both.
"In the Championship there are 24 teams so there are a lot of games. This is better for them."
Comment 73 - 92 of 92
monyet_beracun, I hardly like to join issues with anyone on this site but since you were so good at comparative analysis does it also count that AW did all that in 10 years with Arsenal while SAF achieved his in 20 so whatever scale you are using I think both of them have achieved identical success in the period that they have,but Wenger more than Alex because he has had to spend less in that time and achieved what he did.
Arsene get the powers that be to spend some money for f'+k's sake,falling behind and in danger of losing place in the "top 4".Youth coming through are great,but it would be nice to win somthing now.
arsenal 2 -man.u 0....@#$% man u....hahahhahahaaa
What wenger has done at arsenal is undeniable. He took them to the Elite, however good a manager he is i think he still needs to but more players?
Good to c eduardo back he is a class player, Hopefully this year it's Man Utd, Liverpool, aston Villa and Arsenal in Champions League. Chelski are s@'t
at #68
ronaldo vs adebayor
rooney vs van persie
vidic vs toure
van persie and adebayor are slightly older, but who's sweating now?
ricky b, mike s, HOVAbyte... from your lame comments, it shows how dull you all are. you allow your Man utd sentiments to overwhelm your sense of resoning.. there is no point arguing with you guys.'cause you are football illitrates.
Wtf, many idiots as always! TO MU fans, do you really think that Arsenal's jung players quality is lower than your?? Look at the last season, you won the PL, because the last tours were very unlucky for Arsenal + many many many injuries. Yes, I agree MU is one of strongest teams in the world and your football is attractive, plus all your players are top class, but don't forget that you are are second richest club in the world (first is Real M.). Your budbet is really width and A.F. can purchase players paying 30mln pounds or more. Arsenal isn't so rich so AW has different policy to make the club one of the strongest with limited budget.If they have had more finances, probably Ronaldo would play in Arsenal! It is like example.
How you can say that your side are better than Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal??? They all can win PL, but your team plays stably against all weaker and stronger sides, that means you are in the top of the table.
anthony_b you just need to respect SAF for his achievement, Wenger has the money to spent but chose his phylosophy of using youth players instead of buying big and experience players also Benitex have enough money aswell but chose to buy players and sell players e.g Robie keane and loss almost 8 million pound in 6 months.Please do your findinds well b4 u type.
Arsene !you are very good:whether you win or lost or you draw
you!monyet!be just.man u "s cost is much bigger than arsenal .man united spent very much
Arsene !you are very good:whether you win or lost or you draw
#79 "That is based on what he has spent, sold and natured trophies won. No other manager can match that, or achieve what he has on such a budget."
Spent = according to soccerbase, this season, arsenal alredy spent 30.8 millions while ManU just 30.7 millions, so what he achieve with such a budget??? 5th in the table
sold = Good job offloading all your best holding midfield Diarra, Flamini, Giberto. Now no1 can fill the hole ih that postion.
Ferguson? he sold injury prone players thts no longer needed, saha to everton and silvestre to arsenal ;p
Trophies? Wenger has only won 4 Community shield, 3 premier league and 4 FA cup for Arsenal. SO how in hell he is better than SAF that won 8 more community shield, 5 FA cup, and 10 premier league. Oh yeah, SAF also won the CL twice and lot other titles.
So, no disrespect, please do your homework before make complete ARSE of yourself anthony b and give credit where its due.
Arsene Wenger what what United can do.
Anything can happen that is why he used
that word that United could be the new
Untouchable, Infact am adding Delicate
cux United position can never be changed
by any club side.
#79. Every manager has his own strengths and weaknesses. Alex might be a risk taker but not Arsene. Alex might like to spent but not Arsene. If you swap them across, Alex might have difficulty managing Arsenal where Arsene might scratching his head how to spend the money. Do you think Arsene will be able to secure Premiership status if he is to manage West Bromich or Stoke City now? No direspect to them of course, the point is about the right man for the right job. Cheers:)
Anthony_b can you imagain what Liverpool would have been if we had same money as even Arsenal to spent.Talkless of if we had same as ManU.If we had money to buy Barry. So you think if a manager is antagonist to SAF he is the best manager? What a funk?
#77. Arsene always talks sense. Without ant disrespect to Sir Alex, Arsene Wenger is the best manager in the league.
That is based on what he has spent, sold and natured trophies won. No other manager can match that, or achieve what he has on such a budget.
Give credit where due.
Sir Alex has a fantastic team just now, but look at what it cost.
Imagine if Arsene had the same money to use???
ZIGGY - Ah! a UTD fan, a lot to blame when they lose. It's own goal this time. You only lead by 2 points, so don't talk as if you've already won it. If Liverpool is a one man team than you should be worried coz despite that, we're only 2 points behind. Assuming you also saying all UTD players are class
finally arsene talking some sense
ralph and rosebud, morons like you must treasure the moments you get to watch the REAL Arsenal team compete in the carling cup and FA cup.
Saying that now that half of your 16 man squad are out injured maybe you'll see Real Arsenal more often.
ralph and rosebud. give up. you are blithering on about shyte. who cares about your worthless opinions??? the youngsters mentioned that play for arsenals first team are hardly there every game. what a complete load of tosh. too funny.
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