Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident his side is on course to claim its usual place in the Champions League.

That was very much in jeopardy just a few weeks ago but Saturday's 3-1 Emirates Stadium victory over Norwich City saw the Gunners leapfrog London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham into third place in the Premier League table.

All four league fixtures, plus a Champions League game in Germany against Bayern Munich, have been won since Arsenal lost 2-1 at Tottenham on March 3, a result that left the Gunners trailing their north London rival by seven points.

Wenger was quick to point out that only after 38 games will the table reveal its true meaning but was nonetheless delighted with his players, who over-turned a 1-0 deficit with just five minutes remaining against the Canaries.

"At the moment, the position is not important," he said.

"What is important for us is to keep our run going and the consistency of our wins. At the moment, the position has no real meaning. It is really tight, and the team who is the most consistent will get there."

AFP

(China Daily 04/15/2013 page23)