PARIS, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Arsene Wenger, who has just celebrated 10 years as Arsenal manager, believes his side can beat champions and London rivals Chelsea to the Premier League title this season.
"It's satisfying to think that Chelsea are not the only ones who can be successful, even with money", the Frenchman told French sports daily L'Equipe in an interview on Tuesday.
"Chelsea can be beaten this year in England. I'm profoundly convinced of that. And I believe we can beat them."
Wenger said his major achievement of the past decade was to have transformed the London club's image, from "boring Arsenal" into a spectacular side.
"That's what I'm the most proud of," he said. "Our leitmotiv is to win, but to win in style. Frankly, I'm satisfied in a way, as well as surprised, when I'm travelling abroad and people tell me 'We like Arsenal because they play nice football'."
"That was one of the goals, to bring a bit of the French culture, to make the English game more technical, to force England to look at the game differently".
Wenger said one of the first steps he had taken at Arsenal had been to force the players to have a healthy diet. "I banned those chocolate bars the players were stuffing themselves with," he said.
"On the bus to Blackburn (for Wenger's first game in charge), the players were chanting 'We want our chocolate bars'.
"At halftime, they expected me to yell like a madman and I didn't say a thing. They were used to being shouted at."
Despite all his years of living in England, the Arsenal manager said he still felt himself to be a Frenchman.
"I'm French. I have not become an Englishman. I have the impression of living on an island called Arsenal.
"If you fancy a sightseeing tour of London, don't ask me. You would get lost."
arsenal slowly climbing up the table now..
JOSE MOURINHO has suffered a double blast from Manchester United and Arsenal.
United star Mikael Silvestre taunted Chelsea by saying they are worse than last year.
And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger weighed in by insisting MourinhoÂ’s champions will end up handing over the Premiership title to Arsenal.
Defender Silvestre said: “Are Chelsea untouchable? I have the feeling rather that their machine can get jammed at the moment and that they are not as strong as last year. That’s my impression.
“Let’s just carry on in our own sweet way without looking at others and see how things go.”
Wenger said: “It is deeply satisfying to me to feel sure that Chelsea will not have a monopoly on success in England, despite all the money that they spend.
“Chelsea can be beaten in the Premiership this season and I’m deeply, totally convinced of that.
“Indeed I’m certain the team to beat them will be us.”
United and England star Wayne Rooney also believes the morale of MourinhoÂ’s side could be affected by having stars frozen out of the team.
Rooney said: “Chelsea are going to have some top stars sitting on the bench and you can see how that unnerves some players.”
good for arsene wenger
being confident let him won half of the battle
