It’s our best chance to win the title, says Arsene
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes 86 points will be enough to win the Premier League title this season. And it is looking increasingly likely the Gunners boss will extend his contract, which runs out at the end of the season, after the club’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke provided the clearest indication yet that he wants the Frenchman to stay on.
Arsenal are currently second in the table, level on 20 points with leaders Manchester City and Liverpool, after an impressive start to the season.
Indeed, Wenger claims his side are in the best position they’ve been ‘for five or six years’ to win their first title since 2004.
Wenger reckons he has already worked out how many points his side will need to secure the title.
‘After nine games the first trend is set, it’s about 20 points so the title will be decided between 82 and 86 points,’ said the Gunners boss yesterday.
Leicester won the title last season with 81 points. The lowest points total for a Premier Leaguewinning team was Manchester United with 75 in 1996-97.
Wenger was addressing fans at yesterday’s AGM, which also saw Kroenke reward his manager with a portrait to honour his 20th anniversary at the club.
Kroenke, known as ‘Silent Stan’ for his reluctance to speak publicly, hinted that Wenger will remain at the club beyond the end of the season.
When asked about the prospect of replacing the 67-year-old, Kroenke said after the AGM: ‘You see it (at Manchester United).
‘It’s very hard. He’s a great manager. He’s been a wonderful influence on the club. We are all very high on Arsene. We are top of the table right now.
‘I know a number of (sports team) owners that are very successful that say the same thing — the hardest thing to do is be consistently competitive at the top of the league.
‘Arsene has always done that and Arsenal has always been in that position. We have always been competitive. We may not always win the things we want to win. We are very focused on winning the league. Arsene’s been consistently at the top and I will tell you — it’s very, very hard to do if you look around sports.’
Chairman Sir Chips Keswick added: ‘We all recognise the fantastic contribution Arsene has made.
‘He continues to have huge energy, passion and desire and we are confident in his ability to take us forward. At an appropriate time, we will sit down with him and discuss the future but our current focus is maintaining the run and competing for trophies.’
The club are also confident about tying Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin to new contracts.
The trio are in talks over new contracts and, when asked about the likelihood of them signing, chief executive Ivan Gazidis replied: ‘We have a good track record in retaining key players.
‘I can’t get into a discussion on individual players but I can say we will apply the same focus to members of our current squad.’
Arsenal take on Reading tonight for a place in the EFL Cup quarterfinals, with Carl Jenkinson set to make his first appearance for the club since May 11, 2014.
Jenkinson had two loan spells at West Ham — but returned to Arsenal midway through last term after sustaining a knee injury that he has now recovered from.
Kieran Gibbs, Rob Holding, Gabriel, Lucas Perez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are all set to feature against Jaap Stam’s team.