Arsene Wenger Talks Arsenal's Premier League Chances, Southampton Loss and More

Arsene Wenger remains confident Arsenal can win the Premier League title despite missing the chance to go top on Boxing Day when they suffered a shock 4-0 defeat to Southampton.

Per the Mirror's John Cross, the Frenchman was asked whether the Gunners "have the depth of squad and mental strength" to maintain their title challenge. He replied: "Of course, of course," adding:

"

At this stage of the season I don’t give too much importance to going top. What is more important for me is that we show quality in our games.

We were not at our usual level and that’s more disappointing than not overtaking Leicester [City] at the top.

Overall, we are strong enough to deal with that, to show against Bournemouth that we can get over this kind of result.

"

Journalist, Arsenal fan and club shareholder Piers Morgan was scathing in his assessment of the Gunners on Saturday, accusing them of crumbling under the pressure of being able to leapfrog the Foxes in the title race:

Indeed, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all suffering their own problems and failing to achieve consistently good form this season, Arsenal should be well clear of their rivals by now.

The Gunners showed their title credentials by beating City—their biggest opponents in the title race—on Dec. 21 and swiftly cast those credentials in doubt in their very next game by being comprehensively outplayed by a Saints side that had lost four of its last five league matches.

Football writer Miguel Delaney believed the result and performance was indicative of the Gunners in recent years and that the match could have a significant impact on their season:

Wenger said several factors contributed to the defeat, ranging from refereeing decisions to Southampton's physical prowess and the weather:

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It’s always difficult to have the same level in every game but we were a bit unlucky as well. The first three goals...I don’t see why they should have stood.

Southampton were sharper physically than us. That can happen even if it’s not fatigue. Maybe we could play again tomorrow and we could win and be sharper.

They were a very physical team who stopped us from playing and the wind and conditions were very difficult for us as well. Instead of putting the ball on the ground, we lifted the ball too much and lost too many balls.

"

If Wenger's assertion his team are mentally strong enough to cope is correct, Arsenal should bounce back with a strong showing at home to Bournemouth—though even if they do that, how much can be read into it is debatable.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

On the depth of his squad, which has been rendered worryingly thin by injuries yet again, Wenger remained somewhat unconcerned:

"

I believe in this team because they have been winning and 80 per cent of the players have not been overloaded, they haven’t played many games.

If you look at the number of games that [Mathieu] Flamini, [Aaron] Ramsey, [Joel] Campbell have played since the start of the season. ... Even [Olivier] Giroud was out for a long while, [Theo] Walcott as well.

All these players are not overloaded with games and it’s not like we have played 25 games.

"

The Frenchman's comments may be true, but they might nevertheless prove worrying for Arsenal fans, who will no doubt be hoping for the Gunners to bring in quality reinforcements in January.

In order to fully capitalise on their fantastic opportunity to win the title this season, not to mention cover their injury crisis, Arsenal need to recruit during the forthcoming transfer window.

Wenger's faith in his squad is admirable, but if they go another transfer window without bringing in any outfield players, his failure to act could prove an incredibly costly mistake.