Arsenal's manager "Arsene Wenger" all but conceded the Premier
League title to leaders Chelsea after seeing his side let slip a
one-goal lead in a 2-1 loss away to Swansea on Sunday.
Defeat left
the Gunners 12 points behind Jose Mourinho's table-toppers after only
11 league games played.
There might be more than two-thirds of the
season left and the small matter of 81 points to play for, but Wenger
believes Arsenal's London rivals are unstoppable.
"At the moment
Chelsea are on course for 100 points this season," said Wenger, who won
the last of his three Premier League title as Gunners boss during the
2003/04 season.
"If you look at the number of points they have
today, if they keep that up nobody will catch them, that's for sure,"
the Frenchman added.
"There doesn't look to be anybody capable to
challenge them at the moment."
Having relinquished a three-goal
lead at home to Anderlecht during a 3-3 Champions League in midweek, the
Gunners' defensive frailties were on display again in south Wales.
Alexis
Sanchez gave Arsenal a 63rd-minute lead at the Liberty Stadium, but two
goals in three minutes in the final quarter, from Gylfi Sigurdsson and
substitute Bafetimbi Gomis, left Wenger empty-handed.
"I think
it's a game that we were quite in control of at 1-0," Wenger said. "But I
felt that we allowed them back into the game by losing some challenges
in the middle of the park. You cannot afford to lose them.
"It's
unfortunate to lose a game like that but we were not rigorous until the
end.
"We produced quite a decent performance for 75 minutes but
you have to last for 90 minutes. It's disappointing but we have to take
it on the chin.
"But give Swansea credit...Swansea are a good
team."
Wenger added: "We have had a very disappointing week,
considering the performances we produced and the end results we got,
it's very disappointing.
"We were 3-0 up against Anderlecht and
1-0 up today and in the end we lose two points against Anderlecht and
three points today. You have to be capable, once you are 1-0 up and a
big team, to win the game.
"I don't know how much damaging it is,
but we had an opportunity to come back into the top four."
Swansea
manager Garry Monk was understandably delighted with a victory that saw
his side leapfrog Arsenal into fifth place.
"We had some
unfortunate injuries in the week, but I have belief in the squad and it
takes a squad not just 11 players," Monk said.
"I think we saw
again today that we have that inner belief and mentality. It was
certainly what carried us through today.
"When we were 1-0 down, I
was thinking what we could do. I felt we had the crowd with us and when
we got the equaliser, I thought we needed to seize the initiative. That
was why I put Bafe on.
"We prepared for the best Arsenal side
today and we understood just how much they can hurt you, at any moment,"
Monk added.
"I know they suffered in midweek but they are capable
of upping it at any moment. But the way we worked was outstanding.
"Of
course, we are very happy going into the international break. We have
had a tough time, but it was crucial we took points from our last two
games.
"We won't always get it right but we have to make sure that
we stay in games right until the very end."
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