Hill-Wood gives Wenger backing

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood maintains it is "ridiculous" to suggest the board would "lose faith" in Arsene Wenger following a difficult spell at Emirates Stadium.

While the Gunners remain on course in Europe following the 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev earlier this week, their domestic challenge has stuttered, but chairman Hill-Wood insists any talk of Wenger not having the total support of the boardroom are wide of the mark.

"Of course he has my backing. What he has done for the club over the last 12 years has been fantastic," Hill-Wood told Arsenal TV. "We are only a third of the way through the season and we have had a few disappointing results - but you do not lose faith in a man like him after three or four bad results. It is a ridiculous suggestion really."

Despite the recent win over Manchester United, the squad has endured a turbulent both spell on and off the pitch, with former captain William Gallas stripped of the armband following public criticism of his team-mates and the side suffering back-to-back league defeats.

Arsenal head to leaders Chelsea on Sunday some 10 points off the pace after five losses already this season - another this weekend would leave their title hopes all but over before Christmas and facing a real fight to get back into the top four.

New captain Cesc Fabregas feels there is plenty of football left in Arsenal between now and May.

He said: "The aim is to lift a trophy. We are in the last 16 of the Champions League and are in contention in every competition.

"We have played only 14 league games this season and it is not over yet. Nothing is done and we will fight until the end.

"Our target is to go there and win, because we could get some points back.

"The other teams at the top have some difficult games as well, so we will see."