Wenger confident of seeing off United challenge
Arsene Wenger says he is confident Arsenal will get their title challenge back on track with victory over Manchester United tomorrow lunchtime. The Gunners are looking for their first win in four matches but take on United without first choice strikers Em
Arsene Wenger says he is confident Arsenal will get their title challenge back on track with victory over Manchester United tomorrow lunchtime.
The Gunners are looking for their first win in four matches but take on United without first choice strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie, who miss out through injury and suspension respectively.
No matter, says Wenger, who expects an improvement on Wednesday night's disappointing 0-0 Champions League draw with Fenerbahce.
"It is a massive game and of massive importance for us," said the Arsenal manager.
"We play every three days at the moment and every game is massive for us.
"Manchester United v Arsenal is always a special one and we know for us it is vital to do well in the big games in this league. I am confident we will. " Arsenal missed a host of chances against the Turkish champions in the first half on Wednesday, but tired alarmingly after the break.
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Wenger admitted his side looked jaded.
"In the last 20 minutes we expect Arsenal always to create many chances and this didn't come because I felt we lacked the physical resources."
"I felt that we created the chances in the first half - we had three or four clear-cut chances but couldn't score. "In the second half I felt we dropped a bit physically and from then on we were less dangerous. We were not sharp enough to put our strikers into good positions. That made a 0-0."
Arsenal, however, remain two points clear of Porto at the top of Group G and will qualify for the Last-16 if they beat Dynamo Kyiv at home on 25 November. The Gunners also remain unbeaten at home in Europe since April 2004.
Looking ahead to tomorrow's game, Mikel Silvestre is a major doubt after breaking his nose on Wednesday night, while William Gallas faces a late fitness test. Theo Walcott is expected to return from a shoulder injury picked up in last week's 2-1 defeat at Stoke City.
