Luiz Felipe Scolari has told Arsene Wenger's critics to lay off the under-fire Arsenal boss and insisted the Gunners will not be out of the title race even if they lose to Chelsea on Sunday.

Wenger is under intense scrutiny ahead of his side's trip to Stamford Bridge and his title hopes are already hanging by a thread after five Premier League defeats.

The Frenchman's team are 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, he has been rocked by William Gallas's public outburst and has even seen his future as manager called into question.

But Blues chief Scolari, who has remained close to Wenger after the pair met while working in Japan, cannot understand the criticism being levelled at his counterpart.

He said: "This is the first time I'll have played against Arsene Wenger but he's been my friend for 10 or 12 years now. We have been big friends since we met in Japan and I like him very much as a coach and a person.

"If I had to choose five football coaches in the world as the best, he would be one of the five.

"His team always tries to play beautiful football, so it's difficult to win. In the big games, they play better so we need to realise this.

"I watched their game against Manchester United and it was one of the best games in the Premier League.

"I don't think we can knock them out of the title race. Even if you're 15 points clear with five games to go, you're not champions here. You're only champions at the end of the last game."

The good news for Arsenal is that Emmanuel Adebayor, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri will all play on Sunday after passing fitness tests.

Wenger also remains confident that Arsenal can inflict Chelsea's second home defeat of the season after Liverpool won at the Bridge.

Wenger said: "You cannot say when you are ten points behind we are favourites to win the championship, but you can say as well the only way we get back into it is to believe we can win.

"There is no team that is not vulnerable, none in the world. First of all we have to go with extreme desire and express our strong points and not hide.

"We can play and win everywhere in the world."

Scolari, who hopes to welcome back Joe Cole for the clash with the Gunners, also insists Didier Drogba is "100 per cent committed to Chelsea" despite his reported meeting with representatives from Inter Milan on Monday.

Drogba sits out Sunday's game through suspension but Scolari said: "I think he is happy. Why not? Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world and he gives us what we need.

"I have not spoken to him about it [the meeting with Inter Milan] but my relationship with him is still very good."