Arsenal Are Not Out Of Premier League Title Race - Arsene Wenger & Chelsea Boss Carlo Ancelotti

Wenger & Ancelotti unite over Arsenal's title chances.

By Alan Dawson

EPL: Abou Diaby - Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea v Arsenal (Getty Images)
Arsenal cannot be discounted from the Premier League title race, according to both Arsene Wenger and Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The Gunners minimised an 11-point November deficit in two months to rise to the top of the table a fortnight ago, but during a crucial four-game 'make-or-break' period that reaches a climax against Liverpool this week, the north Londoners have so far returned just a solitary point from a possible nine.

Two successive losses, sustained against rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, followed a draw at Aston Villa. The Emirates Stadium clash against Liverpool on Wednesday evening is now "vital", according to Wenger.

He is quoted by the official website of FIFA as having said: "We are not in the best of positions but we will not give up.

"It is vital against Liverpool but it was vital today and we still have lost."

Ancelotti, whose side overcame Wenger's at Stamford Bridge on Sunday thanks to goals from Didier Drogba in a 2-0 win, added: "Arsenal still have a possibility because they are a good team.

"It depends on the performances of Manchester United and Chelsea. I am not sure it will be a race with two horses."

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10:38 PM GMT
Milan owner and former Italy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has this to say:

“I said to Ibrahimovic not to use his hands (in reference to slapping a Napoli player at the weekend) and only his feet – he did that tonight.

“He reminded me of Van Basten, whom I am very happy for with his new job at Heerenveen.

“As for the future, we already have a great coach in Allegri and we're very happy with him. I speak to him and give him suggestions as I did with all my previous coaches.

“Champions League or Scudetto? We will try to win everything, and I think we can do just that. We had a lot of injuries, but we have a big squad, so we should be able to compete on all fronts.”


10:33 PM GMT

And now we have some reaction from San Siro, courtesy of our man in the field Sergio Stanco...

10:29 PM GMT
Robert Zeliang has this to say of Arsene Wenger: "Wrong tactics, fool. Arsenal have dug their own graves.”

Meanwhile, Tonde Chitonho has asked Thierry Henry to take Arsene Wenger back to the US with him!

And on the subject of Henry, Rizky Ferdiansyah humorously added: “King Henry couldn't beat the Prince Boateng!”
10:19 PM GMT
After the match, I took to Facebook and Twitter again to get some fan reaction. Lets take a look at what our readers have to say:

Joel Peeperkoorn feels that Arsenal should rest their big guns in the second leg, saying: “There's no way we can beat Milan by five goals."

Jez Cook, however, takes a different perspective, singing himself back to positivity: “FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ....FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ...FIVE FOUR - just keep repeating it.”

Well, you have to admire his fighting spirit...

10:10 PM GMT
Stat time again, folks, as we can reveal that tonight is Milan's biggest ever win the Champions League, while it is Arsenal's biggest ever loss in the competition!

Incidentally, no team has ever progressed in Europe after losing the first leg by such a heavy deficit.
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