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Coach Wenger says Arsenal can break 12-year EPL jinx

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IANS London

Arsenal FC head coach Arsene Wenger is confident his players have the right mentality to win the English Premier League (EPL) title.

Wenger has guided his team through a topsy-turvy campaign to sit top of the EPL at the turn of the new year and believes they have what it takes to claim a first league crown in 12 years.

The last time the Gunners won the league was their incredible unbeaten season in 2004, a feat the French tactician was quick to remind his doubters of.

"We are hungry -- our hunger and desire is very strong. We have survived despite the fact that we have been hit by very bad injuries and have made some fantastic results," Wenger told arsenalfc.com on Friday.

 

"For 2016 [the target] is now to be the best team. One thing that is very positive is that if we are the best team from January to May, we will be very happy. That's our target, and knowing that the Premier League is an extremely competitive league, and looking at the results around you, of course you know that you need to put in the effort to be competitive in every game," the 66-year-old added.

"I'm happy that we could win silverware again -- the FA Cup and the Community Shield. And that we are today competing at the top of the Premier League. That's what I work every day for. To make our fans and everyone who loves the club proud is what pleases me the most."

Evaluating on the performance of his team in 2015, Wenger said: "I would say we are a team who had a little bit of a difficult start. When you lose the first game at home, it's always a big blow. But we have had fantastic spirit and have always shown that when we are in trouble we can fight back.

"Overall, when you look at our continuity, 2015 was a positive year because we won the FA Cup, improved our results in the Premier League at the start of the year, continued with that and today we are in a strong position."

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First Published: Jan 01 2016 | 8:18 PM IST

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