Irish bookmaker Paddy Power and Manchester-based Fred Done opted on Thursday to pay out on single bets for champions and runaway Premier League leaders Chelsea to retain their trophy.

"If you look at the table they have a big advantage, but I'm not one of those who thinks the championship is over," Wenger told reporters at the club's training ground on Friday.

Recalling how Fred Done paid out twice in 1998, after stumping up early for bets that Manchester United would win the title in what became Arsenal's double season, Wenger said: "They are taking a big risk.

"Last time they paid out (against us) we won it, so that's a good sign."

Dismissing the popular view that Chelsea have a second Premier League title in the bag, he said: "There's only one way of thinking in the English press at the moment -- and everybody goes down that route.

"Football is more surprising than that. What looks obvious on September 29th can be completely different in November. We've seen it before. It was like that for us (last season).

"If it happens 10 or 20 years on the trot you might be concerned. But at the moment, they've won it once and the second time is not over, far from it. I' m not as pessimistic as the media."

Wenger also disagreed with reported comments from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho this week that the world, apart mainly from the club's own fans, was against his team.

"I feel it's not true," Wenger said. "The whole world wants an interesting championship, that's completely different.

"The world wants the leaders to be beaten to keep it interesting, it was that way with Manchester United and with us. It's normal."