We played up at Pompey…

‘We have problems with our strikers, it’s true,’ said Wenger. ‘Everybody tells me to buy strikers, but nobody has scored more goals than us in the League. We have players who move the ball well and everybody gets in dangerous positions. With the confidence high, everyone can score goals. But we are still in the market.’

The Sun tells us that we go into the New Year four points behind the leaders with a game in handand reminds us that we have now bagged 51 goals – the Premier League’s highest scorers. It quotes AW thus: “I believe it was a big game for us because we played a big game on Sunday and, three days later, you can be less focused.

Victory for the Gunners came a month after their crushing 3-0 defeat to Chelsea which had everyone, including Wenger and his own players, writing off Arsenal’s title chances, says the paper.

Wenger added: “I’m not surprised at what we’ve done since Chelsea. When we lost 3-0, I think people at that time didn’t believe what I said. It’s good. It shows that not only I can be wrong, but you can all be wrong, too.”

But the Frenchman also maintained that just as Arsenal are back in the most open title race for years, so too are the likes of Manchester City and even ailing Liverpool.

He went on: “It’s not enough, four points, from fourth. It’s completely open this season. What is interesting this season is that, from Chelsea to Man City or even Liverpool, everybody could still be there. Everyone can still drop points.”

The Arsenal boss also praised young Ramsey, who deputised for injured skipper Cesc Fabregas to stunning effect.

Wenger, who also has Theo Walcott sidelined, said: “Cesc is out for 10 days. It could be 12. Let’s say the only question mark we have is does he make our game against Everton or not. Walcott has a ripped muscle (in his side) and about the same, 10 to 12 days.