December 16, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 5, 1428

LONDON, Dec 15: Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal’s showdown with Chelsea on Sunday will go a long way towards deciding the destiny of the Premier League title.

Wenger is convinced the Gunners can win the league for the first time since 2004 if they come out on top in their clashes with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

A victory for Wenger’s side at the Emirates Stadium would open up a six point gap on their London rivals. And with Liverpool playing second placed United earlier on Sunday, Arsenal could have a healthy advantage at the top by the end of the weekend.

After two years consigned to the sidelines while Chelsea and United battled it out for English supremacy, Wenger is relishing the chance to play a major role in what is shaping up to be the best title race for years.

“It’s down to consistency in the big games. I believe without a doubt that this season will be the most exciting year in the Premier League,” Wenger said. “Since I have been here you have never had four teams as tight as that after 15 or 16 games. It is super healthy.

“But you want it to be fair and remain fair during the season because it could get a little bit out of hand sometimes when it’s very tight.”

Arsenal’s win over Steaua Bucharest in midweek wasn’t enough to earn top spot in their Champions League group but it could still prove to be a turning point.

Robin van Persie’s return in that 2-1 victory was perfectly timed to lift a side feeling down on their luck after defeat at Middlesbrough.

Van Persie had been out for two months with a knee injury but looked like he’d never been away as he produced an influential display.

Wenger is set to start the Dutch striker against Chelsea and his midfield could be bolstered as well with Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb back in training on Friday.

The main sub-plot of Sunday’s meeting between London’s pre-eminent forces is Ashley Cole’s first return to Arsenal since his controversial move across the capital in 2006.

The England left-back made it clear he wanted to leave Arsenal after falling out with the board over his wage demands and ended up at Chelsea, who had already been fined by trying to tap him up.

Cole’s exit left a sour taste for Gunners fans, even though they got William Gallas as part of the deal, and they are certain to give their former hero a torrid reception, despite Wenger’s pleas for calm.

“I want our fans to be behind our team and not to especially have resentment with Ashley Cole because he has done well for the club as long as he has been here,” he said. “Ideally, you want everybody who has played for you to be respected.”

While Arsenal have been earning all the plaudits, Avram Grant has quietly steadied the ship at Chelsea with an impressive 16-match unbeaten run.

The Israeli was given no respect when he took over from Jose Mourinho in September but he has the Blues within a win of drawing level with Arsenal.

Grant, who spent some time studying Wenger’s training methods before moving to England, was rewarded with a new four-year contract this week and his French counterpart insists it was well deserved.

“At the moment they have been discreet, but efficient,” Wenger said. “Avram Grant has got a completely different profile, he is not very noisy, but his team is efficient and that is important. His results speak for him.”

Grant rarely allows his emotions show in public so he was never going to emulate Mourinho’s volatile approach to these fixtures. But even he acknowledged the match carries an extra significance for both teams.

“This is an important game because it’s a big game between these two clubs,” he said. “Secondly, we are three points behind Arsenal. It was seven points two games ago and now it’s only three. I don’t think this is the game that will affect the championship immediately but it’s a good game to win.”—AFP