Gunners can’t afford to slip-up, says Wenger

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has admitted his side cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to beat Manchester United to the Premiership title.

Wenger has set his team the target of winning their four remaining Premiership games, starting at Bolton this weekend and followed by fixtures against Leeds, Southampton and Sunderland.

If both teams take maximum points from their remaining games, the losers would be the runners-up with the best points-per-game tally in the top flight, even if the system of three points for a win was applied to all past seasons.

But while Wenger is highly conscious of the threat posed by Manchester United, he believes victory in those four matches should be enough to keep the title at Highbury.

As Sol Campbell awaits trial by television in his appeal against his red card in the draw with United last week, the Frenchman insists Arsenal have since erased any advantage given to Alex Ferguson’s side by their 2-2 tie at Highbury.

The Gunners came through one of their toughest tests, away to Middlesbrough, to remain three points behind United with a game in hand and a slight advantage on goal difference and goals scored.

Wenger told the club’s website, www.arsenal.com: “It looks like each team must win every game now. It is down to the one that does not slip up. Coming out of last Wednesday’s game, United had a small advantage momentum-wise but we levelled it at Middlesbrough.”

Arsenal have a chance to overtake United by winning at the Reebok Stadium, given that United’s game at Tottenham comes 24 hours later, with the Red Devils’ other two matches then against Charlton and Everton.

Arsenal still have a number of injury worries, with Patrick Vieira resting his knee problem and Edu set to be ruled out for the rest of the season.

Ashley Cole was due to have intensive treatment on an ankle injury sustained in the 2-0 win at Middlesbrough, while Francis Jeffers has a knee ligament problem.

David Seaman was nevertheless hoping to resume training after missing the past two games with a chest infection, while Campbell was also getting over similar symptoms.

The game at Bolton could be the England defender’s last of the season if he is unsuccessful in his appeal against his dismissal at Highbury. Tapes of the incident, in which the defender was deemed to have elbowed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the face, are being sent to three members of the Football Association’s video advisory panel.

If a majority of the panel members agree with referee Mark Halsey, the decision is almost certain to stand and Campbell will have to serve a four-game ban for violent conduct as it was his second red card of the season.

However, if the panel believe Campbell did not deliberately elbow Solskjaer, the FA could hold a formal hearing into the appeal next week.

lMeanwhile, Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy’s improved domestic disciplinary record has been hailed by Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Mick McGuire as “phenomenal”.

Bellamy was yesterday handed a one-match suspension and fined £5,000 by a three-man Football Association panel at a personal disciplinary hearing in York.

The 23-year-old had initially been charged with using abusive and/or insulting words towards referee Andy D’Urso during Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on March 5.

McGuire, though, managed to get the charge reduced to improper conduct and, following lengthy deliberations, the panel’s verdict means Bellamy is banned for Newcastle’s final Premiership match of the season at West Brom on May 11.