Arsene Wenger is refusing to get disheartened by Arsenal's recent poor run of Premier League results.
The Gunners were held to a goalless draw away at struggling Wigan on Sunday, their third consecutive stalemate in domestic competition.
They now sit just two points ahead of rivals Manchester United and know that the Red Devils have played a game less.
Wenger remains confident though that his side can take the title and feels that they are not doing too much wrong at the moment.
"It is tighter than ever," he said.
"We dropped two points (against Wigan) and we are going through a patch at the moment, we are a bit unlucky I feel. But the team is still focused.
"We want to remain calm and determined then we'll have a very good chance to do it."
Wenger could argue that the Gunners have been unfortunate not to take maximum points from their recent visits to Birmingham and Wigan, and he feels that the results prove just how difficult it can be to face those sides battling for their lives at the wrong end of the table.
"When you fight against teams who fight not to go down, like we did at Birmingham, they never give up," he said.
"If you do not make a difference early on then you are always under threat because if that happens the more their belief and determination grows during the game."
Tags: Wenger Arsenal
Cheryl Cole yesterday kicked cheating husband Ashley out of their home.
The devastated Girls Aloud singer is said to be "seriously considering" ending their 18-month marriage over his boozy fling with a hairdresser.
Tearful Ashley, 27, begged to stay but she sent the Chelsea star packing telling him she needs "time to think". A friend said: "She is angry."Friends of Cheryl say she is absolutely devastated by husband Ashley's cheating - and feels utterly betrayed because they have been making plans to start a family.
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One friend said: "Cheryl is in total shock. She thought she had found the man of her dreams in Ashley. But now those dreams have been crushed.
"The worst thing about it all was that it was totally unexpected. She is angry, but mostly stunned by his betrayal.
"No one can believe Ashley has done this to Cheryl. Everyone thought their relationship was rock solid and are as shocked as Cheryl is. It is a horrible, horrible mess."
Chelsea and England star Ashley bedded single mum Aimee Walton before Christmas at a friend's flat after meeting her at a West End nightclub while drunkenly celebrating a Premiership victory.
But stunned Cheryl, 24, only learned of his infidelity on Thursday after Aimee, a 22-year-old blonde hairdresser, sold her sordid story. The Girls Aloud singer spent a sleepless night rowing with the 27-year-old defender at their £3.5 million home in Oxshott, Surrey.Finally she ordered him to temporarily move out of the house - saying she "needed some time" to think about the future of their 18-month marriage.
Cheryl's sense of betrayal has been fuelled by the fact that she and Ashley have recently been discussing trying for a baby next year.
Her friend added: "Cheryl needs to make some difficult decisions about her future.
"She's got some serious thinking to do. She has always been very outspoken on the subject of infidelity.
"Now she has to decide whether she wants to stay with Ashley or end their marriage.
She has been through a lot of bad relationships in the past where the men have treated her badly.
"She had no idea this news was about to break and she is utterly devastated.
"She has always been happy for him to go out with his mates and other footballers.
"She never worried about what he was getting up to as she had total faith in him, 100 per cent trust."
Cheryl and Ashley were at home together when they learned that Aimee was cashing in on her drunken romp. Ashley broke down in tears as furious Cheryl ripped into him.
The friend said: "Ashley was crying and begging for her forgiveness and promised her it was a one-off. Cheryl was crying too. But it is difficult to see where they go from here."Ashley was late for football training yesterday - turning up at 11.30, a full hour after teammates Frank Lampard and John Terry . He had left home looking tired and sheepish but still wearing his diamond-encrusted platinum wedding ring.
The former Arsenal left-back later prepared to head to the North West for today's televised FA Cup clash against Wigan.
Cheryl was consoled yesterday by mum Joan, who was already on a visit from the family's home in Byker, Newcastle. She is expected to stay with Cheryl over the weekend.
Girls Aloud band members Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh also phoned to comfort her.Cheryl has been taking a break from her Girls Aloud duties over Christmas and is due to begin work again next week.
Aimee, from Morden, South London, has boasted of having "wild sex" with Ashley after they met in the club.
She told how he downed vodka cocktails then threw up on the car journey to his mate's flat in Friern Barnet, North London.
Aimee claimed he slapped her so hard his wedding ring marked her bottom - then threw up again as they had sex.
Aimee said the £90,000-a-week star told her Cheryl "would not mind" him cheating as long as he kept it secret.
But Cheryl's brother Gary, 17, claimed Ashley would not have slept with Aimee - because she was too ugly. When he was shown her photo yesterday, he asked: "Is that who he's supposed to have sh****d? She looks like a bewer to me."
Bewer is Geordie slang for an unattractive girl who looks old beyond her years.Gary added: "Mam is in London visiting Cheryl at the moment. She will make sure she's OK.
"I don't know about this story, I don't believe he would do that to Cheryl. I am sure they will be fine.
"I've met Ashley loads of times and I think he is a really canny lad."
Neighbours of Aimee yesterday described her as a "WAG wannabe" who would do anything to achieve fame.They also said she was a fanatical Chelsea supporter who loved to swan about in designer labels.
Alison Bridger, 45, said: "She acts just like a footballer's wife.
"I'm not surprised she has got herself a Chelsea player, she's a big fan."
Alison told how Aimee adopted a party-mad lifestyle after dumping her boyfriend, a soldier who served in Iraq.
The couple lived together in a house for army personnel and had a young son Rhys before splitting.
Alison added: "After they split up she became a party animal. She was a neighbour from hell.
"Most of her friends are also WAG wannabes - she acts like she's Posh Spice. She's always wearing Gucci or Prada."Ashley and Cheryl married in 2004 - two years after they met while both living in the apartment block where Ashley bedded Aimee, They couple were paid £1.5million by OK! magazine for the rights to cover their wedding.
Cheryl has often spoken in glowing terms of her relationship with Ashley.
She recently said: "We are really, really happy. We spend every minute together.
"He is not into showbiz parties or flashy restaurants, he just likes staying home with me.
"He is just an amazing, genuine man. I really want a baby and so does Ashley."
sourcesourceOriginal article with all the gory, vomity details here:
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/19707559.html
Tags: SoccerAshley Colefootball Gossip
Bolton have turned down a bid from Chelsea for striker Nicolas Anelka.
The future of the French international has been the subject of speculation for some time and Anelka admitted last week he would be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.
A number of other top clubs, including Manchester United, had been linked with moves for Anelka, but Chelsea are the first side to make a bid.
"We can confirm we have made an official offer for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka, which is being discussed with Bolton Wanderers," read a statement on Chelsea's official website.
But Bolton have turned down Chelsea's first offer and the London club may now decide to come back with an increased offer as they attempt to secure his services during the transfer window.
Chelsea will be without Didier Drogba for the next month as he takes part in the African Cup of Nations for Ivory Coast and with the the likes of Claudio Pizarro and Andrei Shevchenko performing inconsistently this season, coach Avram Grant has set his sights on signing Anelka.
It is understood that their opening bid was in the region of £11million.
Anelka joined Bolton in 2006 from Turkish club Fenerbahce for a club record £8m. He has also played for Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and won the Champions League whilst at Real Madrid.
Tags: Bolton Chelsea Anelka
