English Premier League: Arsenal ready to challenge for trophies, says Wenger

"It was important to convince people we can win these big games. And that we did it in a convincing way is even more important," says Arsene Wenger. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: Arsene Wenger is convinced his Arsenal side now possesses sufficient consistency to challenge for trophies at home and abroad.

Much has been made of the fact that the Gunners have not won anything since 2005 but, following Saturday’s 2-0 home victory over Liverpool, they are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Their credentials are set for a thorough and instant testing however as on Wednesday they travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, having previously lost 2-1 at home to the Germans, and on Sunday they are back in Premier League action at reigning title-holders Manchester United.

“It was important to convince people we can win these big games,” said Wenger.

“And that we did it in a convincing way is even more important. I believe nobody would dispute that we deserved to win this game.

“We have have plenty of other big games coming up and this will help us to deal with them. It’s down to consistency and we have been consistent since the first of January 2013. Ten games and 25 points is a respectable number. The players know each other better and have improved individually and collectively.”

Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal a first-half lead before Aaron Ramsey made it 2-0 just before the hour mark with his 10th goal of a very impressive season.

Pellegrini revels in City’s magnificent seven

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini praised his team’s killer instinct as they condemned Norwich to a humiliating 7-0 defeat at Eastlands.

An own goal from Bradley Johnson set City on their way before David Silva, Matija Nastasic, Alvaro Negredo, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko all got on the scoresheet.

“It was a really good performance. The team played really well during the 90 minutes, not only the first half,” said Pellegrini. “Normally when winning 4-0 at half-time, in the second half a team finish or stop.

“But the team continued playing exactly the same and that’s very important for me.”

It was City’s biggest top-flight victory since 1968.

On some of the fluid moves involving the likes of Aguero, Silva and Samir Nasri, Pellegrini added: “It is the way we work every day.

“It is so important for me to see the way I want them to play.

“They are very good technical players when they move the ball quick and move into space, it’s very difficult for our team not to score so we must continue the same way.”