Wenger: Home form is vital

Arsenal’s form at the Emirates Stadium will ultimate dictate whether they can mount a serious title challenge, Arsene Wenger has declared.

Despite a somewhat slow start to the campaign, a good draw against Manchester City and a 6-1 win over Southampton means the Gunners have yet to be beaten and they will put their unbeaten record on the line when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates on Saturday.

While wins on the road are vital to any team looking to win the title, Wenger believes turning the Emirates Stadium into a fortress if they are to mount a sustained challenge this time around.

“If we do well at home against the strong teams, it will of course have a big impact on our chances in the league,” said Wenger.

“We have played one [big team] where we got some belief, against Manchester City away.

“Saturday it is another one, but it is a different one because we are at home.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has revealed Arsenal came close to signing Eden Hazard before he finally joined Chelsea.

The Blues are reported to have paid Lille £32million for the 21-year-old but he could have been wearing the red of Arsenal had they had the money to spend.

“All the teams with big budgets in England were after him. The transfer price was fixed, because he has a buyout clause, so everybody was at the same level,” Wenger revealed.

“I cannot tell you how close we were to signing him, because I don’t know what Chelsea paid in the end.”