Wenger gunning for top spot

ARSENAL may already have booked their spot in the next phase of the Champions League but manager Arsene Wenger will not allow his team to take their foot off the pedal against Sevilla tonight.

A goalless draw against Slavia Prague in the last round of matches earned Arsenal their place in the last 16, but Wenger insists there is still plenty to play for when they take on Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Primarily Wenger wants his side to secure top spot in Group H – which they will achieve with a victory over second-placed Sevilla – but the Frenchman is also highlighting the importance of keeping their unbeaten run going.

“It is important (to finish top),” he said. “We want to finish first, it gives you a little advantage in the draw and it gives you another advantage because it gives you the second game at home in the knockout stages, so we would like to take that advantage of course.

“We are also a team who are on a good run and we want to keep that going, and we know that is very, very important.”

Arsenal are leading the way in both the Barclays Premier League and in Europe following a stunning start to the season.

Domestically, the Gunners are unbeaten after 13 games and hold a three-point lead over second-placed Manchester United, who have played a game more than Wenger’s men.

Arsenal have also impressed in the Champions League, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 in Group H while scoring 11 goals – the most by any team in the group stages so far – and conceding none.

The north London side famously went unbeaten in the league during the 2003/04 season, but Wenger side-stepped the question about whether his side could repeat that feat this term.

He said: “I love to work with this team, they are really hungry and humble. They show that in every game and as long as we maintain these two qualities we have the chance to win the next game, which is what you want to achieve.”

Arsenal will be without rested duo William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor for the match, as well as injured duo Gael Clichy and Robin van Persie.

However, midfield trio Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto are all back, as is centre-back Philippe Senderos following a back problem.

Wenger indicated that he will again be rotating his side, and he confirmed young Dane Nicklas Bendtner will be given an opportunity to impress.

Almost inevitably with tonight’s game taking place in Spain, talk turned to Fabregas.

The 20-year-old Spaniard has been a huge influence in the Arsenal midfield this season and the media in his homeland have repeatedly linked him with moves back to former club Barcelona and Real Madrid.

However, Wenger believes he will remain at the Emirates Stadium.

“We have said many times that we are building a team with him. He has also come out and said he is an Arsenal player,” he added. “The question about Barcelona and Real Madrid is always coming up, but for me the future of Cesc is at Arsenal.”