Arsenal manager puts Champions League 'dreams' on hold as team lose way in league
ARSENE Wenger insists that returning to winning ways at Bolton this weekend is Arsenal's top priority – rather than "dreams" of Champions League glory.
The Gunners are currently in their worst run of domestic form for nine seasons, with Sunday's 2
-1 defeat at Chelsea stretching a winless streak to five league matches.
Arsenal's inconsistency has seen both Manchester United and Chelsea claw back what was once a five-point advantage, with Arsenal slipping down to third.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the title race is anything but over, however, with key fixtures between the top three sides still to come next month.
Arsenal may have the fast- approaching prospect of a Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool, but Wenger insists the immediate focus is on picking up a much-needed victory over relegation battlers Bolton on Saturday afternoon.
"We want to do well in the Premier League and not dream about the Champions League – we have to fight back," he said.
"It is five games now since we have won and we want to come back to winning ways.
"We have to become more efficient defensively because if you look at the goals we have given away recently they have been inefficient."
While the Arsenal manager did not single out any individuals, the performances of central partners Kolo Toure and captain William Gallas have been of less than their usually solid standard recently. Full-back Gael Clichy, though, feels Arsenal have what it takes to recover championship-winning form over the run-in.
"Seven games mean there is a lot to do for them and for us. We just have to play the best football we can," said Clichy. "If we win all the games, anything is possible – but we have to be realistic and not drop any more points.
"When you look at the table you see Manchester United are six points ahead of course – the gap is open a little bit now. It will be difficult for us, but we have a great team and great quality."
Clichy picked up a slight hamstring problem in the defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but
is hoping to feature against England tonight in what would be his first full cap.
Another Arsenal player set for international duty this week is Gilberto. The veteran midfielder will, though, not have to travel far as Brazil take on Sweden at Emirates Stadium tonight.
The 31-year-old has found his first-team chances limited this season as Mathieu Flamini has forged a formidable partnership with Cesc Fabregas.
Gilberto did not even make the bench against Chelsea on Sunday, and indicated he may move on in the summer. "If a good opportunity comes along, I don't see any other option," he said.
Wenger, meanwhile, has hinted he may be ready to move into the transfer market to bolster the Arsenal squad next season with a swoop for £12 million-rated Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa.
The 21-year-old France international is said to be frustrated at being on the fringes of the Lyon team and has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
"If he is for sale, then we are very interested," Wenger told French TV station TF1. "He is a great player and Arsenal is a potential destination for any great player."
Sir Alex, meanwhile, is increasingly wary of the threat posed by Chelsea to United's defence of their Barclays Premier League title. United have a five-point lead at the top, but Ferguson has noted Chelsea's stealthy progress under Avram Grant.
With United set to travel to Stamford Bridge at the end of next month, Ferguson has identified that 26 April date as crucial. "I think Chelsea hold the key – especially because we go to their place, where they've got a formidable record," Ferguson told his club's official website.
"We've established a good lead but we're not taking anything for granted – we have to carry on playing the way we have been.
"I've said all along, the team who shows real consistency between now and the end of the season will win the league."
United's 3-0 win at home to Liverpool last weekend has given them added momentum for the run-in. "We've developed this season, and I think you saw that maturity reach its peak in our win over Liverpool," said Ferguson. "We've retained last season's consistency; we're challenging for the league – and we're in the quarter-finals of Europe."
The full article contains 765 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
