Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Likes To Find Excuses - Chelsea Midfielder Michael Ballack

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has claimed that Arsenal's predictability was their own downfall during the Blues' Sunday 2-0 triumph at Stamford Bridge.

Furthermore, Ballack was critical of Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman paid tribute to his own side's ability to retain the ball, however, Ballack believes Wenger is simply making excuses for an inability to claim a positive result in west London.

Ballack told Times Online: "We wanted to do our job. We knew the way Arsenal play. It is always the same style," the German international said. "If you play tactics like we did, you can beat them.

"This season and the season before they showed they weren't able to win the league," he added, damningly. 

Regarding the comments from Wenger, who said he had not witnessed a demonstration of football from the victorious Chelsea, Ballack stated: "[Wenger] always says things like this when he loses to find an excuse but football is not possession of the ball and playing a nice pass, football is about winning games and that is what Manchester United showed when they played them and what we did.

"We derived the win because we were very effective and that was our strategy. Football is a mixture of winning games and good football physically, but also technically.

"We have a good mix in the team as we have shown this season and you can't do more. We are in first position and that counts."

Wenger refuses to discount his side from the title race, and Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, too, believes the crown will still be contested between the sides currently occupying the top three spots. Ballack, though, claims only Manchester United will challenge the Blues for the league trophy.

"If you look now, it seems like a race between Manchester United and us - but four weeks ago, you could see how it was [different] and it can go quick when teams lose points."