KINGSTON UPON HULL. — Arsene Wenger has refused to give up on the English Premier League soccer title, despite a poor run of form leaving Arsenal eight points short of the top.

A draw in the north London derby at Tottenham on Saturday was the Gunners’ third league game without a win.

Disgruntled Arsenal fans and former players have suggested that Wenger will be under pressure to keep his job if they fail to win the league over Leicester or rivals Spurs.

Arsenal travel to Hull tonight for an FA Cup fifth round replay but Wenger insists that is not their only chance of silverware.

Wenger is eight points behind leaders Leicester and is likely to rest and rotate his squad at Hull with an eye on the Premier League.

When asked if the FA Cup was Arsenal’s best chance of silverware, Wenger replied: “You don’t think like that. The Premier League is far from being over. Just to remind you, we have beaten Leicester twice so we have done our job against them.

“People have to look at other teams more, not just us on that front. We will not give up the Premier League, we will fight until the end.

“We are in a position where we always have to win the next game. It is always the most important game of our life because it is treated like that by everybody else. That’s the way we treat it. It’s the most important game of the season for us because it’s the next one.

“When people question the spirit, it doesn’t mean they are right. The spirit was questioned after Swansea but I would invite you to watch the game again, and then again, which is sometimes welcome for journalists to do because it might change their opinion.

“No matter what people say it does not influence us. Opinions are opinions. I always have the same pressure – that which I apply to myself – after that, well you have more people talking than 20 years ago, more opinions, but the pressure doesn’t change. It comes from within to win the next game.”

Wenger became the longest serving manager in Europe this week, having joined the Gunners 20 years ago from Monaco, and said his passion for the job was undiminished.

“It’s a privilege to work at a club of this stature and receive their confidence for such a long time,” he added.

“I do my job and someday someone will replace me, that’s inevitable, but I try to give my best to leave this club in the best shape so that the next guy coming in will have good potential to work with.”

Wenger will make changes at Hull with youngster Alex Iwobi almost certain to start as he has been a regular in the FA Cup this season. — AFP.

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