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Wenger: Arsenal near City & Chelsea for title fight

Arsenal have the best points record in the Premier League over the last 13 games © PA Photos

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Arsene Wenger claims his Arsenal team are "not far" from Manchester City and Chelsea in terms of quality, and has hopes of mounting a title challenge next season.

The French manager's side are currently eight points behind the former champions and just two behind Chelsea, with the possibility of overtaking the Stamford Bridge club on the final day.

Despite the fact Arsenal still actually need to secure Champions League football ahead of Tottenham, those positions give Wenger belief.

"It's every year [we want to challenge for the title] but this season Manchester United won the championship very early and we are not the only team that suffered from that because we are not far from Man City and not far from Chelsea," Wenger said.

"But, of course, Man United made a difference. It was a strange championship I must say because they did not look over-dominating but they were the most efficient."

Wenger backed his view by pointing to the evident resilience of his side as potential for the future. With an average of 2.46 points per game since February 1, Arsenal have the best record of every team in the Premier League for the last 13 matches - a third of the season.

"It shows that the job that the team has done is very good because they have improved through the season. The players have been absolutely marvellous in their focus, in their desire to improve. The results show we have improved from the start of the season, from the first part of the season to the second part.

"You know I just would like to say that, no matter what happens on Sunday, I will keep of this team a fantastic memory. They have been focused, they have gone through some difficult periods and the players remained always united and focused, with a great desire to do well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.