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By Marc Isaacs
LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Arsenal will do whatever it takes within the laws of the game to close the gap at the top of the Premier League, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.
"Are we ready to kill someone to win a game? No, because you have to respect the rules in football," he told reporters ahead of Saturday's season opener at home to West Bromwich Albion.
"The beauty in the game is to win in respect of the rules, but we will do whatever it takes to win a football game.
"We want to show we can get the four points which made the difference last year between us and the winner."
The London club were criticised for not being resilient enough after finishing behind champions Manchester United and Chelsea last season when they faltered in the final weeks.
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor told British media on Wednesday after Arsenal's 2-0 win in a Champions League qualifier at Twente Enschede that "sometimes you have to be dirty to win".
Wenger followed up the Togo international's words with his own message about their determination to correct last season's failings but stressed they always "play within the rules".
WENGER CONFIDENT
Wenger added he was confident Arsenal -- without a trophy since 2005 -- could compete with European champions United and big-spending Chelsea, pointing to last term's improved points tally of 83 compared with 68 in the previous 2006/07 season.
He said: "We did not lose it (the title) by a big margin and feel we can be stronger than last year.
"Two years ago we were over 20 points behind the leader. Last year we were four points behind the leader and that means to me a significant move forward."
Wenger said he still hoped to attract a quality midfielder before the transfer window closes on Aug. 31, following the loss of Mathieu Flamini, Aleksandr Hleb and Gilberto Silva.
Media reports have linked Arsenal with Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso -- two players now ineligible to play for another club in the UEFA competitions until 2009 having appeared in qualifying ties this week.
"It is a concern and something I'll consider," said Wenger. "I feel the player loses value if he is not eligible for the Champions League. You cannot sell a player at the same price.
"Every club will consider that. I have a shortlist but the list was always short."
