Gunners need to be revolvers, says Wenger

ARSENE WENGER insists he has “no other choice” but to continue rotating his team if Arsenal are to ensure both a top-four finish in the Barclays Premiership and Champions League glory.

The Gunners boss rested captain Thierry Henry on the substitutes’ bench during Arenal’s recent, disappointing trip to Manchester United, and also made several changes to his line-up against Portsmouth, at Fratton Park, on Wednesday night.

Despite taking the lead and then creating several good chances, Arsenal were forced to accept a 1-1 draw against the relegation battlers.

It means they are now in fifth place, but four points behind Tottenham, who they play at Highbury next weekend.

Wenger must again cope without young Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has a foot injury, for today’s visit of struggling West Brom.

And defender Sol Campbell, who suffered a broken nose on his long-awaited comeback, will be missing for at least a week.

The Arsenal boss reflected: “The big problem we face is that, in the last 16 of the Champions League, you play every week.

“If you think you can go with the same eleven, then you have no chance.

“The earlier you address the problem, the more chance you have to get reasonably away with it.”

Wenger declared: “Nobody can survive every game playing like that, because the day you hit the wall, you will lose seven.

“I will continue to rotate because I have no other choice.”

The Arsenal boss observed: “When you do not get the points, you can only say it is a mistake, but I feel I had no choice.”

Wenger insisted leaving Henry on the bench at the start of the United game, which his side lost 2-0, was the right move.

“He had not recovered from the two Juventus games and Aston Villa,” said the Frenchman.

“That is the only reason. What I do not understand is why should you force somebody when he feels he is not ready.

“To do what? To lose a game as well, so just that you cannot say it was a mistake not to play him?

“We have played with Thierry Henry away from home before and have lost seven or eight times.

“You try to protect your players and you make decisions. When it goes wrong, you have to stand up and say it was the wrong decision maybe - but nobody can prove that.”

Portsmouth’s draw with Arsenal, on Wednesday night, moved them level with fourth-bottom Birmingham, albeit having an inferior goal difference.

West Brom - a point further back - are also involved in a scrap for top-flight survival, which was secured last season on the final day of the campaign.

“It is a little bit like what happens every year. One team (Sunderland) is definitely dead now and suddenly all the others are resurgent and come back to good form,” said Wenger.

“I have seen West Brom’s game against Tottenham - I was impressed, they deserved to win the game.

“But Birmingham are picking up points and Portsmouth are doing well.

“It is difficult to predict who will go down.

“You expect an intense game tomorrow.”