Wenger: Bookies taking 'big risk' on Chelsea
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger warned that two bookmakers are “taking a big risk” by paying out on Chelsea winning on the Barclays Premiership title race after just seven games.
Paddy Power, who are ironically one of Arsenal’s own sponsors, and BetFred have already paid out to punters who staked money on Chelsea winning the Premiership this season.
However, while Chelsea are 11 points clear of Arsenal and 10 clear of Manchester United – albeit having played one game more than either of their main rivals – Wenger insists the race is far from over.
“If you look at the table, Chelsea have a big advantage, but I’m not one of those who thinks the championship is over. Those bookmakers are taking a big risk,” he declared.
“Last time they paid out [against us], we won the title, so that’s a good sign!”
That occurred in 1998, when Arsenal came from behind to overhaul Manchester United in the closing straight, although they were similarly overtaken by United in 2003.
Wenger, whose own side were deemed invincible just under a year ago when they went to Old Trafford with a 49-game league run behind them, added: “There’s only one way of thinking at the moment – and everybody goes down that route.
“But football is more surprising than that. What looks obvious on September 29 can be completely different in November. We’ve seen it before. It was like that for us.
“If Chelsea win the title for 10 or 20 years on the trot, you might be concerned. But at the moment, they’ve won it once and the second time is not over, far from it. I’m not as pessimistic as some people.”
Chelsea seem to have developed something of a siege mentality, with boss Jose Mourinho having observed before their Champions League tie against Liverpool that the world was willing them to lose.
Wenger responded: “I feel that’s not true. The whole world wants an interesting championship, that’s completely different.
“The world just wants the leaders to be beaten to keep it interesting, it was that way with Manchester United and with us. It’s normal.”
The Arsenal boss believes his side’s midweek Champions League victory away to Ajax has given them added belief, especially as Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Gilberto were ruled out of that game through injury.
Henry is still sidelined along with Philippe Senderos, while Bergkamp and Gilberto face both fitness tests before Sunday’s game against Birmingham at Highbury.
“I was very happy with the teamwork, the spirit in the squad and the belief we showed in Amsterdam,” observed Wenger.
“We scored two goals way from home in the Champions League and we didn’t always do that with everybody here. Of course, I would always want Thierry Henry in the team.
“But the fact that we showed we can win without him will make us stronger when he comes back.”
Wenger, meanwhile, insisted he is not unduly concerned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich having just added more than £7bn (€10.2bn) to his financial empire having sold his stake in Siberian oil company Sibneft.
“They already have unlimited resources, whether or not he sells his company,” declared Wenger. “And even with those unlimited resources, there’s still a way to beat them.
“I’m not too concerned about that. You get better players than them, they don’t always cost huge sums of money. They can’t buy everybody.”
Wenger added with a wry smile: “I wonder what it would be like to fill the room with that much money? I wonder what sort of surface it would be, but you’d need a big room to put it all!
“It must be terrible to have so much money, you’d never know where to invest it and you’d have to take care of all the people who wanted to take it away from you.
“But at the moment, I must say that I’m not concerned by Chelsea at all. Of course, I can see weaknesses there. You can’t see them? Don’t worry, you will see them soon!
“Anyway, we shouldn’t focus on Chelsea. I want to put a run together and focus on us playing well. I don’t feel Chelsea are running away with it.
“They have a big advantage but I’m not one of the people who thinks the championship is over.”
