Wenger Demanding Total Focus On Premier League

CelticKing · Aug 23, 2008

Wenger Demanding Total Focus On Premier League

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is demanding "complete focus" from his squad as the Gunners look to secure a second successive Premier League victory this evening at Fulham.

Arsenal began their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last week, and after tackling Fulham at Craven Cottage later today, they will be seeking entry into the group stages of the Champions League again by completing the job against FC Twente next Wednesday in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie.

Manager Arsene Wenger had to do without most of the squad this week because of international demands, and realises that switching his players’ focus back towards collecting Premier League points is paramount.

"Fulham have a strong squad, and their team look more dangerous going forwards than they did last year. If you add to that it will be a derby, you want a game where you have complete focus," he said.

"We know the success of our season is based on how quickly we can focus again on club targets after international games."

Dutch international forward Robin van Persie, who scored for Holland against Russia in midweek, should be back in the Gunners’ starting line-up alongside Emmanuel Adebayor against Fulham. Van Persie was a substitute against West Brom last Saturday, coming off the bench during the second half.

Wenger is concerned that Adebayor is being greeted with a degree of hostility by some Arsenal fans because of the transfer unrest surrounding him during the summer.

The manager is keen to defend his Togo striker, saying: "I believe that Emmanuel has been unfairly treated, because he had a lot of interest from many big clubs and he always told me one-to-one his preference was to stay. In the end he stayed.

"That story did not come out like that in the press and unfortunately he is paying a price for a story which is not really him.

"He made a press conference in Austria where people interpreted his statements a bit differently, but I know what he told me, and I know he made sacrifices to stay."

Wenger added: "I was convinced he wanted to stay, but I was not always convinced he would stay because there is a big difference in that.

"People have advisors and some clubs pay higher wages than we do, we have to accept that."

Arsenal’s latest signing, 31-year-old Mikael Silvestre from Manchester United, may not feature against Fulham today, but Cameroon midfielder Alex Song could be back in contention after returning from the Olympics.

However, Euro 2008 winner Cesc Fabregas will not be rushed back a hamstring problem, but should return to face Steve McClaren's FC Twente, who are 2-0 down to the Gunners from the first leg.
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Wenger Demanding Total Focus On Premier League

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