Wenger : consistency will win us the title

ARSENE WENGER believes his record-breaking Gunners can reclaim the Premiership title through sheer consistency.

Wenger watched his side create a club record of 24 league games unbeaten from the start of a season after a hard-fought win at Wolves.

His side showed champion class in recovering from a torrid end to the first-half against a side whose lowly league position belies their fighting spirit. And ultimately, goals from Thierry Henry and Kolo Toure maintained the two-point advantage over Manchester United, who were involved in a titanic struggle at Everton.

United’s roller-coaster ride into title contention has been in stark contrast to that of Wenger’s men.

But the Frenchman insists he is not interested in the trials and tribulations at Old Trafford and is instead focusing solely on extending his own side’s unbeaten run. Wenger said: “I am not concerned by what United did at Everton because if we keep winning games, then the title will be ours. United nearly slipped up today but that has nothing to do with my team.

“We cannot rely on United slipping up and as long as we keep going and keep winning there will be no problem. The fact that after 24 games it is so tight makes the players realise that every point is still vital, but I think that makes us a better team.” Arsenal went to Molineux expecting a tough battle against a side who had seen off Alex Ferguson’s men three weeks ago.

Dennis Bergkamp’s ninth-minute opener suggested the Gunners might be in for an easier ride but they reckoned without the qualities that have handed Wolves a Premiership lifeline.

Vio Ganea grabbed a deserved 25th-minute equaliser with his first Premiership goal from Jody Craddock’s head-down in the box.

And boss Dave Jones’ ambitious attacking line-up began to pay off as they took the game to the Gunners.

Carl Cort caused plenty of problems on his home debut while Ganea missed a golden chance to give them a half-time lead. It was the same story at the start of the second period with Wolves pressing and Denis Irwin hammering a long-range free-kick inches wide of Jens Lehmann’s goal.

But one moment of magic saw Arsenal home when Henry found space to reach Robert Pires’ ball on the right and slid his side’s second under Paul Jones.

Four minutes later the game was effectively over as Toure finished off a close-range move involving Patrick Vieira with a stooping header into the back of the net.

Wolves boss Jones insisted he would take more positives than negatives out of another brave display and Wenger paid tribute to the relegation battlers’ qualities Wenger said: “Wolves gave every drop of blood to stop us playing and they did it well. I understand now why they did not lose at home for such a long time. I’m glad we’ve got three points against a side who in the first half gave us a really tough game.”

Wolves’ attention will immediately switch to tomorrow night’s crucial visit to Leeds. A first away win of the season would dramatically enhance their survival hopes and confidence is still high in the aftermath of the United win.

Captain Alex Rae insisted the season is far from over and concurred with Jones that despite the defeat their

Arsenal experience had left them in good heart.

Rae said: “If we keep showing this kind of spirit then we have a good chance. We have to take the positives out of this game and I think there are plenty for us to look at but I guess we have to concede that the better team won.”