Wenger has sights set on Villa

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has set his sights set on catching Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League spot.

The Gunners ended a four-game run without a league goal with an emphatic 3-1 win at bottom club West Brom at the Hawthorns on Tuesday, with Nicklas Bendtner netting twice to take his tally for the season to 11.

It enabled them to reduce the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Villa to three points, although Martin O'Neill's side could double that advantage if they win at Manchester City tonight.

Wenger said: "It's a strange situation. We created as many chances against West Brom as we have done in many games. We are on a long unbeaten run since the beginning of November.

"I still believe that in the few draws we had, if we'd taken those chances, we would still be in the title race.

"But now we want to focus on reducing the gap to Aston Villa and other teams and try to win our games."

The Arsenal fans chanted Wenger's name in contrast to the boos that rang out at the Emirates Stadium after the goalless draw with Fulham at the weekend.

He said: "That is very nice. Our away fans have always been great. But I really don't have a problem with the fans being disappointed.

"That's normal. I never complain about that. We are in a job where it is down to us to make people happy - not the other way around.

"We have always to keep the priorities right. When you do not manage that, I can understand that people aren't happy."