Wenger hits back at stadium taunts

ARSENE WENGER answered Alex Ferguson’s taunt that Arsenal would struggle to fill their new stadium by insisting the increased capacity would make them one of the richest clubs in the world.

Wenger does accept it will take time for Arsenal’s youngsters to reach their full potential, acknowledging there is “too much pressure” on the shoulders of Thierry Henry.

But he warned critics against writing off his side ahead of tonight’s Premiership clash against Manchester United, even though they have fallen out of title contention.

“Don’t rule us out too quickly. We want to make 2006 a great year for Arsenal Football Club. The team is very determined to achieve that,” he said.

Wenger’s dogged optimism is impressive, given his side have fallen 25 points behind Chelsea - with just two matches in hand.

However, he scoffed at Ferguson’s suggestion Arsenal may struggle to fill their new 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium on a regular basis when it opens next season.

“I don’t think we will struggle to fill the new stadium. The following of the club is very big. We have 22,000 season ticket holders and 20,000 on the waiting list,” he stressed.

“I’m confident the stadium will yield what it was supposed to yield. I urged the club to do that. This club has huge potential but, when we play at home, we have 30,000 people less than Manchester United.

“But once the stadium has been paid for, this club will be one of the big three or four in the world financially. If the quality of the performances is there and the quality of the team is there we will fill the new stadium.”

Indeed, the short-term future of the club will be governed by their ability to qualify for the Champions League next season - and to keep Henry.

The Arsenal captain will not talk about a new contract until this summer, even though he will then have just 12 months left on his existing deal.

“He’s more under pressure and under focus at the moment because there is a contract problem. When he is a bit tired in a game and doesn’t have the best of games it’s ‘because he wants to leave’,” noted Wenger.

“But it’s nothing to do with that at all. He had games like that when he had four years to go on his contract. There is too much pressure on him but that’s the price to pay when you are a super player and I feel the young players are growing quickly.

“Five or six others - Gilberto, Sol Campbell, Dennis Bergkamp, Jens Lehmann, Kolo Toure and Pascal Cygan - can share the pressure.

“But, of course, the captain leads the team and will be judged on how far he takes his team. Thierry knows that and I know that and I will be judged on that as well.”

Gilberto could return from injury to face United, although Freddie Ljungberg and Robin van Persie will be missing.

Although Chelsea’s domination of English football has cast a new slant on this fixture, Wenger dismissed the notion Arsenal and United were decaying powers.

“People draw quick conclusions. If our squad were all aged 33, I’d say yes. But we have the youngest team of all the four and we’re not as far away as people think we are,” he concluded.