Wolves clash bigger than Barca says Wenger
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday is a more significant fixture than next week's European showdown with Barcelona.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: February 12, 2011 11:40 AM IST
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday is a more significant fixture than next week's European showdown with Barcelona.
Wenger's second placed side trail Manchester United by just four points and that gap could be narrowed this weekend as the leaders face a tough match against Manchester City, while Arsenal host Wolves.
Although the mouth-watering last 16 first leg against Spanish champions Barcelona is set to captivate fans across the world on Wednesday, Wenger would prefer to win a more mundane meeting with Mick McCarthy's Wolves.
After six years without a trophy, the Gunners are desperate to feature in the title race and Wenger knows Wolves, who beat United last weekend to end their 29-match unbeaten run, cannot be taken for granted.
"I really do just focus on Wolves. We are so much focused on the Premier League that I cannot even imagine playing against Barcelona next week because it is out of my mind completely," Wenger said on Friday.
"There is no Barcelona in mind. There is Wolverhampton in mind. That's what is important to us, the championship. We fought so hard to be in this position now that the most important thing is that we focus on the Premier League."
Wenger's main concern is that his side move on from the psychological damage caused by the 4-4 draw against Newcastle last weekend when his side squandered a 4-0 half-time lead in a devastating meltdown.
Wenger met up with the squad for the first time since that match on Friday after they returned from international action and he believes the break from club duties has been helpful.
"I didn't see the players (this week). Basically it was good to go away but the damage could have been much bigger," he said.
"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.
"When we went down to 10 (after Abou Diaby's red card) we were a bit too nervous and we have to learn from that individually and collectively.
"We lost two points we should have got but mathematically we are one point closer to where we want to be.
"The players have a point to prove to themselves because they know they wasted two points. Personally I have a great belief in this team and they can be stronger than ever. They have gained in maturity.
"I like the attitude of this team and I trust the attitude. I don't deny that we lost our way a little bit in the second half and we want to learn from that."
Wenger believes Arsenal's home form will be crucial if they are to overhaul United at the top.
"Home games are vital and we want to be strong until the end of the season at home," he said.
"We can win everywhere, we have shown again at Newcastle that our potential to score goals away from home is massive. Let's just be consistent at home.
"But we have a good example with Wolves how strong the Premier League is. Any team is a real threat for anybody."