Arsene Wenger is adamant that Arsenal are still in the race for the Premier League title despite a difficult start to the season.

The Gunners experienced a tough few months after losing their talisman Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and playmaker Samir Nasri to rivals Manchester City.

Despite an unwanted start to their league campaign, the North London side have recorded a number of recent victories with the aim to get back on track.

"Who would write off the title after nine games?" ESPN quotes Wenger as saying. "The only people who would do that have nothing to do in this job, if you don't believe you have a chance.

"But we have to be realistic at the moment, we are not in contention for that - but there are only nine games played and our aim is to fight, to get back in there.

"No team has won the championship after nine games. It is impossible, no matter how much you know about football, to predict who will win the title after nine games."

Although the Gunners have been questioned over their ability to reach a Champions League spot, the Frenchman insists that they must be in the European competition next season.

"I feel that the minimum target is the top four, that is what we have always achieved," he added.

Arsenal head into their forthcoming match against Chelsea this weekend in seventh place.