Arsene Wenger has reminded Arsenal fans they still have one ‘advantage’ over Premier League title rivals Manchester City despite the ‘surprising’ defeat to Aston Villa.
Arsenal saw fellow title-challengers Liverpool suffer a shock defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday but failed to take advantage as they too were beaten at home.
Ex-Gunners boss Unai Emery returned to the Emirates Stadium to haunt Arsenal, inspiring Villa’s 2-0 win that means the title race is suddenly in Man City’s hands.
City, attempting to become the first team in history to win four successive Premier League titles, are two points ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool with six games remaining.
Wenger was stunned to see both Arsenal and Liverpool lose at the weekend but has given Gunners fans hope as the north London outfit chase a first league title in 20 years.
‘It was a complete surprise,’ Wenger said on beIN SPORTS. ‘When you play for the championship, at home, with a few games to go, and you have the opportunity to make a difference, you have to take it.
‘The surprise of the weekend is that Man City have their noses in front again, nobody expected that. Maybe one of those teams can have a bad result but not both, that was quite surprising.
‘But Arsenal still have an advantage with the goal difference so even if Man City draw a game and we win, we will be in front of them.’
Wenger also said Arsenal could live to regret not pushing harder for the three points when they visited the Etihad Stadium at the end of last month.
The Gunners held Pep Guardiola’s side to a goalless draw but Wenger believes Arsenal could have ‘finished them off’ given the hosts struggled to create many clearcut chances.
‘There was a bit of frustration on the day because okay, it’s a good point and well-fought point because City didn’t create anything,’ the legendary manager added.
‘But you also had the feeling that by pushing a bit more the three points were available there. We will know at the end of the season.
‘Usually when you play a big opponent and you can finish them off, you want to do it.’
Arsenal resume their Premier League title challenge at Wolves on Saturday but first face Bayern Munich for a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
The quarter-final tie is finely poised after last week’s 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium but Wenger is backing his former club to advance at the expense of Bundesliga giants Bayern.
On an entertaining night of Champions League action, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund became the first two teams into the semi-finals after they eliminated Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively.
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