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Club Focus – Arsenal –Wenger signals league intent with full-strength selection against Wolves
Arsene Wenger allayed any suggestions he would be swayed by Wednesday’s impending glamour tie against Barcelona by fielding his strongest side to face Wolverhampton Wanderers. Staying true to his word, the manager kept his focus on the short-term and was rewarded by a comfortable victory as Robin van Persie’s brace took the Dutchman’s recent tally to ten goals in his last 7 Premier League games.
In the build-up to Saturday’s clash, Wenger refused to be drawn into commenting on Wednesday’s mouth watering Champions League tie with Barcelona, instead asserting: “There is no Barcelona in mind. There is Wolverhampton in mind. That's what is important to us, the championship.” This focus was evident in Saturday’s performance as the Gunners controlled proceedings from the off, yet had to wait until the 56th minute to extend their slender lead. Having let a four goal lead slip in their last outing, nerves could have easily got the better of the players, but as it was, the result confined the 4-4 draw to a mere blip in an otherwise impressive run of form and kept pace with United at the top. In hindsight, Arsene Wenger was not merely glossing over an embarrassing turn of events when he focused on the positives from the Newcastle game: “As long as there were 11 against 11 on the pitch against Newcastle we were outstanding and people forget about that. We should get a lot of belief and positives out of that game.”
The strength of Wenger’s selection displays an overwhelming consistency in approach from Le Professeur who, when speaking to the Independent in 1998, identified: “You try and win every competition you enter but it is hard for English clubs because of the fixtures, especially playing domestic matches in the midweeks before European ones. The Champions League is not our priority, the Premiership is more important to me.” Despite making that assertion over 12 years ago, it remains as pertinent now as it did then. Having seen first Chelsea, and latterly Manchester City, emerge as title contenders through heavy investment, the title race has a familiar look to it as Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson go head to head once again.
In the same interview, Wenger mused: "If you do not do well in the championship you will not have a happy season. Consistency is rewarded in the League, in Europe you need good performances on the day.” Again his analysis remains relevant, yet provides comfort and consternation in equal measure. On the one hand, Wenger’s words offer crumbs of comfort, as despite being billed as underdogs, the Gunners have the ability to prevail over such a veritable behemoth as Barcelona. Taking an alternative view, the analysis suggests that recent good form will count for little as two of Europe’s premier football clubs go toe to toe. Last season’s dramatic encounter was characterised by virtuoso performances; by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cesc Fabregas in the first leg, before a Lionel Messi master class swung the tie emphatically in Barça’s favour. Victory over Wolves gives the Gunners confidence, but translating league consistency to one-off European occasions will be key to progress beyond Barcelona this time around.
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