Middlesbrough 1-1 Arsenal: Arsene Wenger says Arsenal can win the title

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger issued a defiant claim that his side can still win the title after taking their dropped points tally to 21 in 17 games following a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Wenger challenged his young side to respond like champions by beating Liverpool in their next match at the Emirates a week today. Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners ahead after 17 minutes before former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere levelled against his old club 12 minutes later.

Wenger insisted: "We believe that champions are people who go on when everybody else stops.

"The league is wide open. We are in a position that whenever we drop points our title credentials are questioned.

"No one believes in us but champions keep going.

We look at the next game as a potential chance to close the gap on Liverpool."

Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who hasn't lost to Wenger's Arsenal in five games, believed his side should have had a penalty when Gael Clichy fouled Adam Johnson in the first half.

Southgate said: "It looked to me on the replay that Clichy has caught Adam Johnson and stood on his foot. We had a penalty given against us at Hull last week that was far less of a foul.

"I am told these things even themselves out so we will wait and see.

"But I was very proud of my team especially the reshaped back four and Jeremie Aliadiere did everything we asked of him and scored an excellent equaliser."