Arsene Wenger has refused to let the growing gap between Arsenal and the league leaders affect his faith in his charges, reaffirming that his side are “still in the fight” despite their 0-0 draw against Southampton.
The home side spurned 21 shots on goal in a match in which visiting goalkeeper Fraser Forster was in inspired form, twice denying Mesut Ozil whilst the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud spurned generous chances on their own.
Arsenal were the only team in the top six to fail to win, with Leicester increasing their lead to five points with an impressive 2-0 victory over Leicester.
With a run of just two wins in the seven games from Arsenal’s last meeting with Southampton, a 4-0 humiliation at St Mary’s, Wenger has seen his side slip away from vying to top spot to fourth, behind victorious rivals Tottenham. However he made an impassioned case for why it is too soon to write off Arsenal’s season yet.
“Let’s not be over-pessimistic,” he said. “We are qualified in the FA Cup, we are in the Champions League, we have a big opportunity at the end of the month.
“We are still in the fight in the Premier League, so let’s be realistic.
“We are very down tonight, but I believe top-quality people respond when they are in trouble. That’s a good aim for us.”
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