insists Arsenal should be considered as Premier League title contenders this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have made an excellent start to the new season with six wins from their opening seven games.
The Gunners currently lead the way in the Premier League as they are a point ahead of and Tottenham, while last season’s runners-up Liverpool are already nine points behind.
And Wenger, who guided Arsenal to three Premier League titles during his 22-year reign, believes the lack of a dominating team this season could open the door for Arteta’s side.
‘I would say that they have a good chance this season [to compete for the title] because I don’t see any super-dominating team,’ Wenger told .
‘I believe that there’s a good opportunity this season to do it.
‘Of course, it’s a little bit a special season because you have a in the middle and you don’t know how much that will affect the performances of individuals and the teams. Overall, I believe there’s a good opportunity there this year.’
Wenger also praised Arteta for ‘restoring values’ at Arsenal and creating a positive team spirit in the dressing room.
‘I would say you need to identify the values of the club and I personally think that Mikel Arteta was very conscious of the values of the club because he’s been educated as well at Arsenal, he was captain of my teams and he wanted to restore values of the club,’ said Wenger.
‘Overall, I think he has done that well. After that you need to create a belief and a sense of belonging, that you belong to something special, something that is bigger than you, that you want to serve. On that front, he’s done well.
‘I’m still in touch with them and overall I believe they are going the right way. Arsenal is a special club and has special values; a good balance between tradition and forward-thinking. They do that well again now.’
, .
,  and .
