WENGER WANTS PLAYERS TO BE UNBEATABLE

Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal side to recapture the Invincibles spirit.

Last Updated: 03/02/12 at 13:44 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Barclays Premier League. Click here to bet.

Arsene Wenger: Wants top four push

Arsene Wenger: Wants top four push

Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal side to recapture the Invincibles spirit and drag themselves back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

The Gunners have slumped to seventh in the table after finally ending a run of three straight league defeats with a frustrating goalless draw at Bolton on Wednesday night.

However, with only five points separating them from fourth, there is still all to play for over the remaining 15 matches.

The Gunners could leapfrog both Liverpool and Newcastle, who play later in the weekend, with victory over struggling Blackburn at Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

However, after suffering eight defeats so far, Wenger accepts there can be little margin for error.

"Ideally you want to be unbeaten. Is it possible? I think to prove that it is possible is just to win on Saturday," said the Arsenal manager, whose side famously claimed the 2003/2004 championship without losing a league match.

"For the rest, I believe that we have played some great football this season and we have to continue to improve the way we play and focus on that.

"Football has to be a happy moment that you want to share with people who come to the game. We always try to behave like that."

Some disgruntled Gunners supporters are planning to put black bin liners over any empty seats at Emirates Stadium tomorrow, highlighting their claims many fans are staying away because of poor performances which have seen Arsenal slump to seventh in the table.

Wenger has been the subject of increased vocal criticism from some sections of the stands in recent weeks.

The Arsenal manager, though, insists all is not yet lost and the team have to take a distance as they focus on the job in hand on the pitch.

Rovers boss Steve Kean has also found himself under fire from the club's supporters this season as they struggle at the other end of the table.

Wenger feels people everywhere need to keep the bigger picture in mind.

"It is not easy anywhere nowadays, but with the media and the opinions of everybody we live in a constant drama. But it is not like that," the Arsenal boss added.

"Football is a happy moment where people come together to watch the team they love.

"We have to stop to make a drama of everything but there are much more dreadful things in life than that.

"We have to keep focused on the fact that we have a fantastic opportunity to play football and we want to focus on that with happy minds, not always to be in a drama."

Wenger continued: "I am here to make all of the fans happy and when I do not manage to do it I am, of course, not happy.

"What is most important is that we have our fans happy at the end of the season.

"I know that it is always a depressed job to judge, the immediate situation, but we have a longer target - to go until May with a determined attitude with belief. That is what we want to achieve.

"Overall I feel this team is strong mentally with a good spirit and attitude.

"We are ready for a fight and that is the most important thing."

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, will be assessed over a knee problem.

It remains unclear when England international Jack Wilshere will be available again after he suffered a second stress fracture in his ankle and is set for further scans later this month.

"I always said February, [so] it is frustrating, but then again you have to respect human nature," said Wenger.

"What is most important is that for such a young player you have to respect his future."

Bet with SkyBet  Barclays Premier League. Click here to bet.

Related News

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

T

here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

gunner14
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

I

remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

jon_bwfc
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

E

den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

cramp
Hazard 'terms agreed' with trio

Footer 365

Chelsea interested in Hulk

Porto striker Hulk is attracting interest from Chelsea and four other Premier League teams, according to his agent.

Parker trains despite injury

England midfielder Scott Parker took part in the opening training session of the Roy Hodgson era in Manchester on Wednesday.

Bad-boy Barton's bad news

After Joey Barton was on Wednesday banned for 12 matches and fined £75,000, TEAMtalk takes a look at the other incidents in Barton's career.

Mail Box

Kean - Lost It, & Other Hair Related Choices

The heat may well have got to one chap, who has come up with a few players/managers whose hair reflects their playing style. That, and the man who tamed Drogba...

Paying Tribute To Didier 'Beast' Drogba

He will be missed by Chelsea but also by other fans who had no choice but to stand back and admire. Plus, mails on Liverpool, Tottenham and the stout Irish defence...

© 2012 365 Media Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved