Mathieu Flamini has urged Arsenal to force their way back into the title race.
Mathieu Flamini has urged Arsenal to force their way back into the title race.The Frenchman appeared to have given The Gunners the points against Chelsea at the weekend with a 78th minute strike, only for Michael Essien to equalise with a brilliant effort from distance.
However, Flamini believes the game showed that Arsenal can live with the top two in the Premiership.
Arsene Wenger's side are currently 10 points adrift of Chelsea and 18 behind leaders Manchester United, but Flamini wants Arsenal to build on Sunday's result and carry their momentum into the midweek game at Wigan.
"We knew it was possible for us to be with the first teams in the table, now we are sure," he told Arsenal's official website. "But we have to show consistency to go and get the points at Wigan.
"At the same time we are a little bit frustrated because we had potential to win the game at Chelsea.
"We scored a goal and we did not want to concede. It was a lesson I suppose but it was a good game for us as well and I thought we were unlucky.
"All of the team were very young except for maybe Gilberto and Jens (Lehmann) so I think this is a really good point for the future."
Jose Mourinho claimed after the game that Arsenal had come to Stamford Bridge looking for a draw, but Flamini has dismissed the suggestion.
"With every pass, every ball and every movement we tried to win this game," he declared.
"It was a game of high intensity. It is true there were some (tough) tackles but that is normal because it was a big game with both teams wanting to win."
