LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down suggestions that his side could force their way into the Premier League title race.
Wenger said he believes Chelsea's lead at the top of the table means that a push for second place is more realistic.
The indifferent form of title holders Manchester City and Chelsea has led some observers to believe that the Gunners could make a surprise bid for the title in the final nine games of the season, with Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho suggesting they are in the hunt.
Arsenal are currently seven points behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand -- away at bottom club Leicester -- on all their title rivals.
And although Wenger's side still have to play Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, the Frenchman suggested a title challenge was unlikely.
"We would love to be in it [the title race], but at the moment we are too far away from Chelsea," he said. "Every week we have a chance to get closer.
"We need positive results and negative results from Chelsea because, at the moment, they have a very good cushion and very good security. What we can master is positive results from us.
"They [Chelsea] still have a game in hand and they are too far away at the moment. They suffered a little in the first half [of a 1-1 draw against Southampton last Sunday], but in the second half they could have won the game."
Arsenal, who travel to Newcastle on Saturday, are now just a point behind faltering Manchester City, with Wenger suggesting the race for a top four finish still has plenty of twists left.
"It is very tight," he said. "We are on the neck of Man City, and straight behind us we have Manchester United, Liverpool... even Tottenham and Southampton are not completely out of it.
"It's down to our performances between now and the end of the season. I do not sit and think second is good. I look at what is the best possible team to win this game at Newcastle."
Despite their Champions League exit to Monaco on Tuesday, Arsenal could still end the season with a top two finish in the Premier League and a defence of the FA Cup.
But Wenger said: "I let other people have that assessment [of what constitutes a successful season. My job is to win as many games as I can. I leave assessment for the quality of our performances to specialists who have to assess that.
"Our mood is down and disappointed [after the Monaco result]. As well, it is quite strange at the moment because we feel we are on a positive trend and we hate to be out.
"Basically, we paid for the fact that this was a game of 180 minutes and, in the first 90, we were not cautious enough defensively.
"Now we focus on our next targets. First of all, we get back into the Champions League. Then continue to improve. We are a better team today than four months ago, and we have to keep that attitude.
"We have won 13 of our last 15 games, and that's down to consistency, our quality and our improvement. Now we have to push on until the end of the season.
"We are in the semifinal of the FA Cup, and in a strong fight in the Premier League. It is important to focus on these targets."
Wenger reported no fresh injury problems ahead of the game at Newcastle, with Tomas Rosicky added to the squad after a spell in the treatment room.
There was, however, more concerning news over the progress of Jack Wilshere after an initial prognosis that he would not be out for long following surgery to remove caps from his ankles.
Wenger said the England midfielder would be out for "a few more weeks," meaning he will not be available until well into April.