Wenger Confident

Arsenal will do whatever it takes within the laws of the game to close the gap at the top of the Premier League, manager Arsène Wenger said on Friday. "Are we ready to kill someone to win a game? No, because you have to respect the rules in football," he told reporters on Saturday before the season opener at home to West Bromwich Albion.

"The beauty of the game is to win in compliance with the rules, but we will do everything it takes to win a football match. We want to show that we can get the four points that made the difference last year between us and the winner."

The London club had been criticised for failing to be sufficiently resistant after finishing behind champions Manchester United and Chelsea last season when they faltered in recent weeks.

The striker Emmanuel Adebayor told British media on Wednesday after Arsenal won 2-0 in a Champions League qualifier in Twente Enschede that "sometimes you have to be dirty to win."

Wenger tracking the Togo international with the words of his own message about his determination to correct the failures last season but always stressed that "play within the rules."

Wenger added he hoped Arsenal - without a trophy since 2005 - could compete with the European champions United and Chelsea great expense, pointing to the latest expression of better points tally of 83 compared with 68 the previous season in 2006 / 07.

He said: "We will not lose (the title) from a large margin and feel we can be stronger than last year. Two years ago we went over 20 points behind the leader. Last year we were four points behind the leader and that means an important step for me."

Wenger said he still hoped to attract a quality midfielder before the transfer window closes on August 31, after the loss of Mathieu Flamini, Aleksandr Hleb and Gilberto Silva.

Media reports have linked with Arsenal, Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso - now two players ineligible to play for another club in the Uefa competitions until 2009 that have appeared in the bonds of this qualification week. "It's a concern and something I will consider," said Wenger. "I feel the player loses value if you are not eligible for the Champions League. You can not sell a player at the same price.

"Each club will have to consider. I have a list, but the list is always short."-- reuters--