Wenger predicts Chelsea title bid

ARSENE WENGER is convinced he was right to curtail his spending this summer — but he believes Chelsea’s £100 million outlay has automatically put them among the favourites for the Barclaycard Premiership title.

The Arsenal manager kept essentially same squad as last season when Gunners were second in the Premiership and won the FA Cup, a decision which is already paying handsome dividends with his side's best start to a season for 56 years.

Across London, Chelsea enjoyed a fine campaign last season, finishing fourth in the league and qualifying for the Champions League despite a frugal period in the transfer market.