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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger left to focus on third place


Arsene Wenger has redirected his focus on the last Champions League group automatic spot after his side's defeat at Wigan all but ended their title bid.
The Gunners let a two-goal lead slip to lose 3-2 on Sunday and are third in the Premier League - six points behind leaders Chelsea, with three to play.
"My target is to win the next game," said Arsenal manager Wenger.
"Manchester City and Spurs can still catch us, so we have to win at least one of our remaining games."
The top three Premier League teams go straight to the Champions League group stage, while the fourth-placed team will face a two-legged play-off.
Arsenal came into the match at the DW Stadium with renewed hope in the title race, thanks to Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday, although that result also increased the threat posed by Spurs to the Gunners' grip on third place.
Not many teams come back from 2-0 down against Arsenal, and the reason is the effort and belief the players showed today
Roberto Martinez
Spurs are seven points behind Arsenal, while Manchester City are nine points adrift but both sides have a game in hand on the Gunners.
"All I know is if we had won today then we would have been back in it," said a despondent Wenger after his side conceded three goals in the last 10 minutes. "I believe we were not focused, not disciplined and were caught.
"In football you have to stay focused for 90 minutes otherwise you run the risk of being punished.
"That is especially the case against a team with nothing to lose, fighting not to go down. You knew they would not give up and in the end we were punished for that."
Goals from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre either side of half-time gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead but goals from Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and a superb 94th-minute strike from Charles N'Zogbia gave Wigan a remarkable victory.
"Even at 2-0 I never thought the game was over," added Wenger. "I could see we were having difficulties keeping the ball, creating other chances, and when you do not create chances in football you are in trouble.
606: DEBATE
The next 3 teams will play with more commitment than Wigan. What chance for Arsenal to get any points? The consequence is obvious
gunnerlodge
"After going 2-0 up our game lacked cohesion and discipline and I always felt we could be punished."
Wigan's victory means Roberto Martinez's side are virtually safe from relegation as they are now seven points clear of 18th-placed Hull.
The victory was Wigan's first top-flight win over Arsenal - after having lost eight of the previous nine matches between the sides - and follows the home successes they have already secured over Chelsea and Liverpool this season.
"We finally got the rewards our performance deserved," stated Martinez.
"We started the game well, played face to face with Arsenal but then we began to lose the ball cheaply and the game was going away from us.
"Not many teams come back from 2-0 down against Arsenal and the reason is the effort and belief the players showed.
"Moments like this are vital for our club and they are the reason why we are involved in football and what our fans deserved.
"To beat Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in one season is something that doesn't come by accident and I'm extremely proud of the players."

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