Wenger admits to ‘big setback’

ARSENE WENGER’S rueful expression told its own story as he beat a weary retreat from Stamford Bridge. The Arsenal manager had conceded his side’s title challenge was on the brink of collapsing and that harsh reality was starting to sink in.

Arsenal’s capitulation to a Didier Drogba-inspired Chelsea has left the Gunners languishing six points behind Manchester United. It is a far cry from the heady days when the north Londoners led United by five points just over a month ago.

They have lost their nerve with the finish line in sight, failing to win any of their last five matches, and Wenger knows they have handed Alex Ferguson’s side the initiative.

“Of course it is a big setback when you add the four games we drew and then losing here,” he said. “I feel we have to come back to winning games before we dream of the title.

“I believe we have the strength but at the moment we are six points behind United. We have first to win our next game before we speak about the title. We have to become stronger defensively first.

“The players will be very disappointed because they gave everything but we go home with nothing. I feel Ferguson is the biggest winner today.”

There could be no more bitter way for a purist like Wenger to surrender the title to his old adversary from Old Trafford as Arsenal allowed themselves to be out-fought by Chelsea in the closing stages.

When Bacary Sagna headed Arsenal into the lead, Wenger was convinced a win was within their grasp. Instead, Drogba capitalised on a generous offside decision to turn the tide when he punished William Gallas’s misjudged header and fired in the equaliser.

The Ivorian then grabbed the winner after more shoddy defending nine minutes from time.

Wenger’s claim that Drogba was offside in the build-up to the first goal was valid enough but he was rightly more concerned with Arsenal’s sudden frailty at the back.

“I must say we were a bit unlucky because the first goal was really offside,” he said. “Of course that had a big impact on the game. We have been very badly done with that recently.

“It is a game we should have won but we have shown some lapses in concentration that we paid for. That is difficult to swallow because we played quite well and were in control of the game.

“I feel we have some defensive problems that we need to sort out. We gave an easy goal away against Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. Defensively we lost control.

“Overall the team played well but we got caught when Nicolas Anelka came on with the long balls and the physical battle. I feel the spirit is fantastic in the team and I don’t believe we have a confidence problem. But we were not serene enough defensively. As a unit we have to show more authority in this kind of situation.”