Wenger will not admit defeat

Arsene Wenger was yesterday defiant in his insistence his side can win the Premiership and has drawn on Arsenal's dramatic comeback in 1998 as evidence to suggest that people "will be surprised at the end of the season".

Few managers would cling to a 3-1 home defeat against Blackburn Rovers as cause for optimism, but it was what happened after such a result nine years ago that has Wenger, perhaps alone, entertaining the notion of overcoming Manchester United's 14-point advantage.

At the end of the December weekend during Wenger's first full season in London when Roy Hodgson's Blackburn came from behind to win at Highbury, Arsenal were 10 points behind United.

Largely without their captain, Tony Adams, receiving treatment for personal problems in France, Arsenal then went on an 18-game unbeaten run to overturn what at one stage was a 12-point deficit and win their first Premiership crown.

"The situation is comparable to 1998," said Wenger. "I have the same feeling now. That year the team gelled together, grew in confidence and belief and suddenly the results became natural. But we had our ups and downs even more in 1998 than we have now.

"I feel the situation is comparable so let's make sure the end is comparable."

Wenger recalls the Blackburn defeat that year as "very low. On that night even I would not have told you we would have won the double, so it shows how low it was. But maybe Blackburn can be the start that can make us compare with 98."

Unlike in 1998, the Gunners now also have Liverpool and, more prominently, Chelsea to contend with. Despite agreeing the table doesn't lie, Wenger maintains Arsenal are every bit as good as the top two and is confident they will slip up.

"At the moment I feel that everybody can drop points against everybody. We have shown them the way," he joked. "All I can say is that when we play against Man United or against Chelsea we do not feel (inferior), you have an impression when you come out of a game. For a neutral observer you could not say there was a huge difference between the two teams."

Wenger reiterated the FA's decision to charge him with improper conduct for criticising Steve Bennett during Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Portsmouth last week was "scandalous".

"Generally you want to be completely controlled but you have the right to understand why it was a free-kick or not," he said. "You can put a robot on the bench or a computer - then people will behave how you want them to.

"I am inspired only by the beauty and love of the game; I am not an example. Sometimes I do not behave well enough and I am big enough to acknowledge that."

The English FA yesterday implored the Stevens inquiry to release the names of the eight agents who have refused to co-operate with the investigation into transfer dealings.

"Can we ban these agents? At the moment no, because we don't know who they are," said an FA spokesperson.

The FA was further frustrated yesterday when a meeting between its compliance unit and the Stevens team was postponed until the new year. Guardian Service