Arsenal must be ready for ‘efficient’ Chelsea, says Gunners boss Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has described Chelsea as “efficient” ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting.

Jose Mourinho’s side top the Premier League table by 10 points with six games remaining, knowing just avoiding defeat at Emirates Stadium on Sunday will as good as seal the title.

Wenger could only seem to grudgingly acknowledge Chelsea’s success as they chase a third top-flight title in four full seasons under Mourinho.

He said: “Chelsea been efficient on set-pieces, counter-attacks, and we have to be ready for that.

“They have been very consistent. They have lost less than any other team and the Premier League rewards consistency. They have been defensively very strong.”

A Chelsea victory would leave them on 79 points, 13 clear of Arsenal with five games to play.

Manchester United, who are currently third, play Everton in an earlier kick-off on Sunday and could move to 68 points with a win, but they will have played a game more than both London sides.

And Arsenal and United still have to play each other.

Wenger’s Gunners have failed to beat Mourinho’s Chelsea in 12 previous meetings, losing seven.

The most recent defeat – a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season – saw the Frenchman move out of his technical area to shove his Chelsea counterpart.

But Wenger refused to discuss the much-publicised long-running, ill-feeling between the two men.

“The match is not about the relationship between the managers,” Wenger said. “What is interesting is the game.

“We have a good run of form and good belief and solidarity.

“Mathematically it will be possible [to win the league] but Chelsea have the championship in their hands.”

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