Gunners fired up by Chelsea spending spree

ARSENE WENGER has revealed how Chelsea’s stg£100million summer spending spree motivated his Arsenal team to prove that they could win the title without major investment.

Wenger warned his side's title rivals that the Gunners are still not at their peak despite having reached Christmas without a single Premiership defeat.

He answered Alex Ferguson's claim that leaders Manchester United are traditionally stronger in the second half of the season by insisting Arsenal are better at coming from behind.

"In 1998, we were 11 points behind Manchester United in January and we still won the title. We are trying very hard at the moment to come from behind."

He also cautioned third-placed Chelsea that they lack the same experience of a title-run as the other two contenders. "Christmas is important but the decisive period comes in March and April, where every game is huge pressure and you have to perform," he said.

"We've got experience of that, as do Manchester United. Chelsea don't have that experience as a team, although their players do individually."

Wenger accepts that Chelsea have the resources for another spending spree in January, while United can also sign a replacement for Rio Ferdinand.

Above all, however, he is placing his belief in the character and spirit of his squad, which was only strengthened in the summer by the arrival of Jens Lehmann for stg£1.5 million.

In contrast, Chelsea spent more than stg£100million on the likes of Damien Duff, Adrian Mutu rated by Wenger as the best signing of 2003 and Hernan Crespo.

United, meanwhile, may have sold David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron, but they bought Cristiano Ronaldo, Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion and Tim Howard.

"The fact that Chelsea and Manchester United bought so many players pushed us to think that if we wanted to be up there, we would have to be at our best," Wenger said.

As far as Wenger is concerned, Arsenal were actually spurred on to meet the challenge of the big spenders, United and Chelsea.

"Maybe that's why we are still there, while the hunger from not winning it last year is also still present.

"At the start of the season, we were not at all calculated as one of the teams that could fight for the title but we are in there and have been remarkably consistent to get there," he said.

"We just want to keep it going as many people say we have not peaked yet, and I hope they are right as we are still in a good position."

Arsenal, who are a point behind United ahead of their Boxing Day game against Wolves, have coped well with suspensions arising out of the Old Trafford melee as well as a long term injury to Patrick Vieira.

"Have I ever doubted them? Well, when we had three games to go in the Champions League group stage and one of those was at Inter Milan and we hadn't won in the Champions League for a year, then you think it could nearly have been out of reach.

"In fact, when there are 89 minutes gone and you are still goalless against Dynamo Kiev, you think that even more. But they had the spirit to get through and when you have the right attitude, the ball goes for you."