Wenger despairs over 12-point gap

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted on Sunday that the Gunners' hopes of snatching the Premier League title were virtually over after the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City.

Defeat left Arsenal 12 points adrift of leaders City and Wenger conceded it would be tough to win the title from such a long way behind.

"It will be difficult to close the gap on City now, but we will try," said Wenger.

"This was a game we couldn't afford to lose. It's difficult to take but we will continue to fight."

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Roberto Mancini has warned his Manchester City players they must be on high alert to quell the threat of Robin van Persie when they face Arsenal on Sunday. The Gunners striker is in outstanding form having scored 14 goals in his last 11 appearances. That run has propelled the north London club up the Barclays Premier League table and they head to the Etihad Stadium to face the leaders having won seven in eight games.

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City boss Mancini said: "We know that every game we could meet a top striker. "In the last game we met (Didier) Drogba, and on Sunday Van Persie. "We must work harder when you play against a top team with a top striker."

"Van Persie is an incredible player. At this moment he is very good, like Arsenal. At this moment they are playing very well." City are looking to get back to winning ways after surrendering their unbeaten record in a 2-1 loss at Chelsea on Monday. And for all their brilliance this season, they could even be second in the table come kick-off if Manchester United beat QPR earlier in the day. Mancini said: "At the moment, us, United and maybe Tottenham are the three teams that can fight for the title. "But the season is long. Chelsea, Arsenal and, maybe, Liverpool could also try. "

"The season is hard. We have a lot of games to play in the next 40 days."

City swooped on Arsenal to sign one of their stars of last season, Samir Nasri, in August. But the Frenchman has failed to command a regular starting spot in City's impressive side since his #24million switch from the Emirates Stadium. The 24-year-old showed glimpses of his talent as he started four successive games recently but he was back on the bench at Stamford Bridge and Mancini is demanding more from him.

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Mancini said: "In my opinion Nasri is a champion - a top, top player. "I think he can do more but when you change teams you can have a problem. "At this moment his confidence is maybe not very good because he didn't play against Chelsea but if he plays Sunday he has a chance to show us. "I would like Nasri to play better, because he is a really good player."

Mancini feels now would be a good time for Nasri to step up with midfield linchpin Yaya Toure heading off to play in the African Nations Cup in January. The Italian said: "We will lose an important player but I hope Samir can play more games at a higher level.

"He is a top player. Every game a player like that should contribute."

Meanwhile, van Persie has warned Manchester City the Gunners have their sights firmly set on the top of the Barclays Premier League. The north London side have quickly climbed back to within striking distance of the top four following an appalling start to the campaign - and inflicting a second straight defeat on the high-flying Blues would reduce the gap on the summit down to just six points.

Van Persie - who has smashed 33 goals in 2011 - believes Arsenal must always aim for the top. "We should have higher expectations every week, but for now because we have only played 15 games in the league we are not even halfway,"

Van Persie told Arsenal Player. "I don't think it's clever to be excited by fourth, fifth, sixth or whatever. We still have to play many games. "So many things can happen - you see that Spurs lost three points last week, Chelsea beat Manchester City. "It is an open league and anything can happen. "Lots of stuff will happen that is surprising so we have to make sure that we are on the good side and actually surprise people with our results."

Van Persie feels Arsenal have turned their season around through sheer hard work following a humiliating 8-2 defeat at Manchester United on August 28. The Gunners skipper added:

"Everybody had written us off to come back from something like that and weren't speaking positively about us. "To bounce back from a period like that you can say that everybody earns some credit because we had to dig deep - trust me." Arsenal showed their new-found resilience when they won 5-3 at Chelsea - where City lost 2-1 last Monday night, and Van Persie is looking forward to another challenge. "It's going to be a big test but we have played against world-class sides before - nobody really expected us to beat Chelsea 5-3 away, but we did it," he said. "I don't see why we can't surprise again. We're having a good run. Everybody is confident and believes in themselves. The spirit is as high as it can get."

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Mancini wary of van Persie threat.

Roberto Mancini has warned his Manchester City players they must be on high alert to quell the threat of Robin van Persie when they face Arsenal on Sunday. The Gunners striker is in outstanding form having scored 14 goals in his last 11 appearances. That run has propelled the north London club up the Barclays Premier League table and they head to the Etihad Stadium to face the leaders having won seven in eight games.

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City boss Mancini said: "We know that every game we could meet a top striker. "In the last game we met (Didier) Drogba, and on Sunday Van Persie. "We must work harder when you play against a top team with a top striker."

"Van Persie is an incredible player. At this moment he is very good, like Arsenal. At this moment they are playing very well." City are looking to get back to winning ways after surrendering their unbeaten record in a 2-1 loss at Chelsea on Monday. And for all their brilliance this season, they could even be second in the table come kick-off if Manchester United beat QPR earlier in the day. Mancini said: "At the moment, us, United and maybe Tottenham are the three teams that can fight for the title. "But the season is long. Chelsea, Arsenal and, maybe, Liverpool could also try. "

"The season is hard. We have a lot of games to play in the next 40 days."

City swooped on Arsenal to sign one of their stars of last season, Samir Nasri, in August. But the Frenchman has failed to command a regular starting spot in City's impressive side since his #24million switch from the Emirates Stadium. The 24-year-old showed glimpses of his talent as he started four successive games recently but he was back on the bench at Stamford Bridge and Mancini is demanding more from him.

Mancini said: "In my opinion Nasri is a champion - a top, top player. "I think he can do more but when you change teams you can have a problem. "At this moment his confidence is maybe not very good because he didn't play against Chelsea but if he plays Sunday he has a chance to show us. "I would like Nasri to play better, because he is a really good player."

Mancini feels now would be a good time for Nasri to step up with midfield linchpin Yaya Toure heading off to play in the African Nations Cup in January. The Italian said: "We will lose an important player but I hope Samir can play more games at a higher level.

"He is a top player. Every game a player like that should contribute."

Meanwhile, van Persie has warned Manchester City the Gunners have their sights firmly set on the top of the Barclays Premier League. The north London side have quickly climbed back to within striking distance of the top four following an appalling start to the campaign - and inflicting a second straight defeat on the high-flying Blues would reduce the gap on the summit down to just six points.

Van Persie - who has smashed 33 goals in 2011 - believes Arsenal must always aim for the top. "We should have higher expectations every week, but for now because we have only played 15 games in the league we are not even halfway,"

Van Persie told Arsenal Player. "I don't think it's clever to be excited by fourth, fifth, sixth or whatever. We still have to play many games. "So many things can happen - you see that Spurs lost three points last week, Chelsea beat Manchester City. "It is an open league and anything can happen. "Lots of stuff will happen that is surprising so we have to make sure that we are on the good side and actually surprise people with our results."

Van Persie feels Arsenal have turned their season around through sheer hard work following a humiliating 8-2 defeat at Manchester United on August 28. The Gunners skipper added:

"Everybody had written us off to come back from something like that and weren't speaking positively about us. "To bounce back from a period like that you can say that everybody earns some credit because we had to dig deep - trust me." Arsenal showed their new-found resilience when they won 5-3 at Chelsea - where City lost 2-1 last Monday night, and Van Persie is looking forward to another challenge. "It's going to be a big test but we have played against world-class sides before - nobody really expected us to beat Chelsea 5-3 away, but we did it," he said. "I don't see why we can't surprise again. We're having a good run. Everybody is confident and believes in themselves. The spirit is as high as it can get."

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Future is bright for Gunners

Aaron Ramsey feels Arsenal's young midfield can only grow stronger.

The Wales captain may not turn 21 until Boxing Day, but he will be in the thick of the action again on Sunday when the Gunners head to Manchester City. Jack Wilshere is expected to return from an ankle problem in early 2012, giving manager Arsene Wenger more youth to call upon with the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin both impressing this season.

"There's plenty of young talent there and we have to bond even more and gel as a team throughout the years. Hopefully we'll make it successful for many years," Ramsey told Arsenal Player.

"It's important that you have that core, that you've been together for a few years and you understand each other. It'll only make us stronger because you realise what to do on the pitch."

Coquelin has eight first-team appearances under his belt already this season, including starts against Manchester United and Tottenham. The 20-year-old had a productive loan spell back in France last season, and it has been suggested he could head to Lille in January.

For now, though, the combative midfielder is focused on making the most of any more chances with the Gunners. He said in L'Equipe. "In my heart, I know I can do something in this Arsenal team, but to be the best, I need regular matches.

"For now, the transfer window is not open and I am focused on Arsenal, but when there really is interest, we'll see what happens."

The Gunners head to Barclays Premier League leaders City following a seventh win in the last eight league games. However, it needed another moment of genius from in-form captain Robin van Persie to secure victory over a stubborn Everton side at Emirates Stadium.

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Manager Arsene Wenger accepts his side have become somewhat reliant on the Dutchman, who has chalked up 19 for the season and is fast closing in on a new Premier League record for the calendar year. Midfielder Mikel Arteta feels the whole squad need to help lift the burden on their captain.

"Sometimes we get space to move into when the forward players have attracted defenders to them, and we need to stay aware of that," he said. "We have players to score from that range."

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Italian job for English duo

Chelsea and Arsenal must both overcome tough Italian tests in the last 16 of the Champions League after Friday's draw in Nyon.

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The London clubs are the last remaining Barclays Premier League sides in the competition following the exits of Manchester United and Manchester City in the group phase.

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But managers Andre Villas-Boas and Arsene Wenger must overcome Serie A opponents if they are to reach the quarter-final stage, with Chelsea drawing Napoli and the Gunners landing AC Milan.

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Robin van Persie Confirmed New Arsenal Captain

Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie Confirmed New Arsenal Captain

Robin van Persie has been named as new Arsenal FC team captain.

The Dutch international has been at the Club since May 2004 and succeeds Cesc Fabregas, who signed for Barcelona this week.

"Robin van Persie will be captain this season," Arsène Wenger told the Official Matchday Programme.

"He is a leader through the way he plays, through his attitude and through his desire to win.

"He’s been at the Club a long time and he’s a technical leader as well. Thomas Vermaelen will assist him, it’s the decision I have made and I’m confident the group will respond to it."

Van Persie will not lead Arsenal out against Udinese - he serves a UEFA one-match suspension on Tuesday night - but will reclaim the armband when Liverpool visit north London on Saturday.

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