Cesc Fabregas maintains Arsenal must stay blinkered and not concern themselves with the performances of Manchester United and Chelsea if they are to go on and win the Premier League title race.
The Gunners may have bowed out of the Carling Cup last week, but they resume the domestic championship campaign at home against Newcastle tonight very much still in the hunt for honours.
Leaders Manchester United, top only on goal difference, showed few ill effects from their short break in Saudi Arabia, sweeping aside Carling Cup finalists Tottenham 3-1 on Sunday to stay on course for a potential Double.
With third-placed Chelsea - four points back - also showing little sign of dropping from the pace, it looks set to be an interesting run-in over the closing 15 league games of the campaign.
Fabregas, though, believes if Arsenal focus on their own job, then there is no reason why Arsene Wenger's men cannot stay the distance.
'We will see what happens, but all we know is that we have to keep winning,' the Spain midfielder told the club's official website. 'We do not have to look at the others, we have to look at ourselves - if we win every game, we will be champions.'
Striker Robin van Persie is continuing his recovery from a thigh problem, which was the latest in a line of injuries this season.
With the Dutchman out of the attack, Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor has led the line in superb fashion, netting a double against the Magpies in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round win.
Fabregas admits it has been tough on their injured team-mate, who has spent some of his rehabilitation time away from the club back in Holland, but is set to rejoin the rest of the squad again this week.
'We all feel sorry for Robin and hope that we will be together again soon, to keep going as a team,' he said. 'It is not nice when you see players who deserve to be in our position as well to be out injured.'
Wenger will also be keeping close tabs on the fitness of Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, who suffered a groin problem on international duty at the African Nations Cup.
Centre-back Toure, 26, has now been assessed by Arsenal medical staff after he was flown to Paris from the tournament in Ghana.
Wenger revealed the problem is not a major one. 'It will keep him out for eight to 10 days - but Kolo will stay with the Ivory Coast squad for the rest of the tournament,' he said.
Meanwhile, there was also more positive news on winger Tomas Rosicky, who limped off after less than 10 minutes on Saturday.
'There is no deep problem with Tomas,' Wenger said. 'He has a problem with his hamstring, but it is not torn.
'Tomas got a kick at Fulham and the inflammation around his tendon provokes some pain, but we feel it's a question of days, not weeks.'
by soccernet.espn.go.com
The Gunners may have bowed out of the Carling Cup last week, but they resume the domestic championship campaign at home against Newcastle tonight very much still in the hunt for honours.
Leaders Manchester United, top only on goal difference, showed few ill effects from their short break in Saudi Arabia, sweeping aside Carling Cup finalists Tottenham 3-1 on Sunday to stay on course for a potential Double.
With third-placed Chelsea - four points back - also showing little sign of dropping from the pace, it looks set to be an interesting run-in over the closing 15 league games of the campaign.
Fabregas, though, believes if Arsenal focus on their own job, then there is no reason why Arsene Wenger's men cannot stay the distance.
'We will see what happens, but all we know is that we have to keep winning,' the Spain midfielder told the club's official website. 'We do not have to look at the others, we have to look at ourselves - if we win every game, we will be champions.'
Striker Robin van Persie is continuing his recovery from a thigh problem, which was the latest in a line of injuries this season.
With the Dutchman out of the attack, Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor has led the line in superb fashion, netting a double against the Magpies in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round win.
Fabregas admits it has been tough on their injured team-mate, who has spent some of his rehabilitation time away from the club back in Holland, but is set to rejoin the rest of the squad again this week.
'We all feel sorry for Robin and hope that we will be together again soon, to keep going as a team,' he said. 'It is not nice when you see players who deserve to be in our position as well to be out injured.'
Wenger will also be keeping close tabs on the fitness of Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, who suffered a groin problem on international duty at the African Nations Cup.
Centre-back Toure, 26, has now been assessed by Arsenal medical staff after he was flown to Paris from the tournament in Ghana.
Wenger revealed the problem is not a major one. 'It will keep him out for eight to 10 days - but Kolo will stay with the Ivory Coast squad for the rest of the tournament,' he said.
Meanwhile, there was also more positive news on winger Tomas Rosicky, who limped off after less than 10 minutes on Saturday.
'There is no deep problem with Tomas,' Wenger said. 'He has a problem with his hamstring, but it is not torn.
'Tomas got a kick at Fulham and the inflammation around his tendon provokes some pain, but we feel it's a question of days, not weeks.'
by soccernet.espn.go.com
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