Published: 4 December, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has hit back at his critics and insists that his team will “fight like mad” to stay in touch with the Premier League pacesetters. 

A Danny Welbeck header earnt the Gunners a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at West Brom on Saturday.

But the headlines were dominated by a banner that fans unveiled at The Hawthorns which read: “Arsene. Thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye.”

The Frenchman, however, says he is not concerned by criticism from a small section of the club's supporters.

“The only thing is to let people talk,” said Wenger. “We live in a society of total opinion but we don’t live off what we say, we live off what we do on the football pitch.” 

And on the pitch Wenger is adamant that his side can still challenge for the championship.

“After 13 or 14 games, you cannot say that the title race is over. We have not started very well, but we haven’t had the squad together since the start of the season. It was a typical post-World Cup start.”

And Wenger added: “We have to fight like mad now. We have big competition in England, we have to accept that. The Premier League level goes always up and this season Chelsea has started very well. 

“They will be difficult to catch, but everybody will fight to come back.”Birmingham