BAD START BUT WE CAN WIN TITLE, SAYS WENGER

ARSENE WENGER insists Arsenal are Premier League title challengers despite their poor start to the season. The Gunners lost at Stoke and Liverpool following their win at home against Leicester on the opening day to leave them six points behind early pacesetters Manchester united. Despite finishing outside the top four last season for the first time since 1996, Arsenal only added £52million Alexandre Lacazette and free transfer Sead Kolasinac to their squad in the summer. But Wenger is confident his team are in with a chance of a first league title since 2004. ‘Why not?’ the Frenchman said ahead of their game against Bournemouth today. ‘Because we have played three games, and two away games. OK, we lost at Liverpool but we can redress the situation very well and very quickly. Some teams who are the new favourites, they are not in a better position than us.’ Despite his confidence, Wenger does not appear convinced by chief executive Ivan Gazidis’s assessment of his squad. Gazidis sent an email to players and staff last week claiming the transfer window went well and that they are stronger as a result. Wenger said: ‘I think we are strong enough, yes. Stronger? I think it depends on what period of the season. We had contrasting periods of the season last year. ‘We have to show that you can improve the team by being together and improving together. Last year we made 75 points, we won the FA Cup and this year we have to do better.’ It was a long window for Wenger, who saw Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez stay after Monaco’s Thomas Lemar rejected a move to north London. Last season was dominated by talk of whether Wenger would stay but eventually he signed a two-year deal following their FA Cup win. Asked if that was a mistake, he said: ‘My personal situation is not important. What is important is Arsenal.’