Wenger should stop the excuses, says Ballack

Arsenal manager under attack over his comments after defeat by Chelsea

Michael Ballack, the Chelsea midfielder, has accused the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, of making excuses for his team's inability to win key games against their closest rivals.

Ballack claimed his side now have the measure of their London neighbours, having won their last three meetings 4-1, 3-0 and 2-0, and stated Wenger's team are easy to defend against. The experienced German international rubbed further salt into Arsenal's wounds by predicting the north London side are unlikely to be challenging for the Premier League title at the end of the season following their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Arsenal are nine points behind Chelsea, who have a two-point lead over Manchester United.

Wenger had claimed that Arsenal had been the better team on Sunday because they had enjoyed the bulk of the possession, and had complained of Chelsea's "tricks" to ensure victory. Ballack responded by saying that winning is all that counts.

"I think he always says this when he loses," Ballack said. "When he loses he always finds an excuse. But football is not about possession of the ball or playing nice passes. Good football is winning games and that's what we do when we play against them. We deserved the win because we played very effectively. It was how we wanted to play before the game. It was our strategy. Maybe in the second half we concentrated a bit too much on defending but if you're 2-0 up you can do this."

The German also attacked Arsenal's much-praised style for being too predictable. "We knew the way they would play," he said. "We saw it in the first game we played against them and in the way they played against Manchester United last week. It is always the same style. If you get your tactics right like we did I think you can beat them. That's what we did. Now it's a race between Manchester United and us."

Two first-half goals from Didier Drogba earned Chelsea the victory, and Ballack said the ability of world-class players to rise to the occasion will stand the club in good stead over the next three months. "We have a lot of big-game players and big characters at Chelsea," he said. "That is why we are a good team and it's really great to be part of this club. Everybody fights for everybody, there is good spirit and good experience in the group, we've had a few years together and there is a lot of personal quality among the players.

"Even if we don't play a fantastic game we have a few players who can decide a game with one action. Drogba is such an important player for us. In big games like this he is always there. It is much better to be playing with him than against him."

John Terry was given a hero's welcome by the Stamford Bridge crowd in his first game since being sacked as England captain for allegedly having an affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-girlfriend of his England team-mate and close friend Wayne Bridge. Terry revealed yesterday he had been touched by the supporters' response. Speaking to Chelsea TV, Terry said: "On a personal note I'd like to thank every single fan. It's been a really emotional day for me and the way the fans have been with me for the last two weeks, honestly it's incredible, I didn't expect that. I go away full of delight and I'd like to thank every single fan for the way they treated me."

Terry yesterday underwent treatment on a dead leg and is expected to be fit to face Everton tomorrow night.