Clear heads will get Gunners firing, says Wenger

ARSENE WENGER feels his Arsenal side must free their minds to get back on the goal trail and kick-start the season.

The Gunners head to bottom club West Brom tonight on the back of four Premier League games without finding the net, the club’s worst run since Wenger has been at the helm.

A combination of poor choices in front of goal and inspired goalkeeping from Mark Schwarzer saw Arsenal fail to force a breakthrough against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, when the team was booed off at the final whistle and some disgruntled fans even directed their frustrations at the manager following a fourth successive 0-0 draw.

Wenger, though, believes his squad have it within themselves to put the finishing touches to their free-flowing football — just as Manchester United have done, while showing their resilience to beat Tottenham on penalties and lift the Carling Cup at Wembley on Sunday.

“United don’t think about it. The trophies flow in for them at the moment, so it is all natural for them,” Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

“Even yesterday they were so convinced they would win it in the end because they have no doubt.

“They put themselves in that position — we were in that position as well, we just need to continue to focus.”

Wenger declared: “I believe the spirit of the team is great, the focus they have in training is great and they will be rewarded — I have never seen a team not being rewarded for that kind of spirit and quality.”

Despite much being made of shortcomings in attack, Arsenal’s defence has conceded just three goals in 12 matches.

Wenger believes such consistency at the back is a solid foundation on which to build. He said: “We want to keep the focus on that strength.

“We are in the final sprint of the season and you can see that it’s vital and very, very important.

“You can only make results everywhere if you feel strong defensively.”

Wenger will, however, be forced into a defensive change for the trip to The Hawthorns, with William Gallas needing to rest a niggling ankle injury.

The Frenchman has been a consistent performer in the past few months and Wenger is pleased to see the former Chelsea man back in form.

“His future is here and it is bright,” said the Arsenal manager. “I believe he has shown that the only answer in football is quality performances.”

With Arsenal still some six points adrift of Aston Villa and fourth place following Stoke’s remarkable fightback in the closing minutes on Sunday, the Gunners boss is all too aware of the importance of getting the right result tonight.

England winger Theo Walcott has resumed full training following a shoulder problem, while fellow long-term absentees captain Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky could both be back in action by the start of April.

Wenger revealed: “Theo is well, he just needs to get used to contact in training.

“Eduardo has a small chance to be back for Burnley on Sunday, even (Emmanuel) Adebayor has a small chance.

“Fabregas and Rosicky (will return in) three weeks.”

Meanwhile fit again West Brom skipper Jonathan Greening has urged the Baggies to draw inspiration from a previous memorable victory over Arsenal at the Hawthorns. Greening was part of the Baggies line-upwhich gained a shock 2-1 triumph over the Gunners just over threeyears ago in their last league meeting at The Hawthorns, with midfielder Darren Carter scoring a stunninggoal.

Greening, who made his comeback from a knee injury in the weekend defeat at Everton, said: “People will say and assume Arsenal will beat us on Tuesday. But we have to go out there and put on a good performance in and do our best.

“I remember us beating them a few years ago when Darren Carter got a brilliant goal from a left-footed volley so we’ve got to try and do that again.

“We need to draw on that experience.”

On-loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson is ineligible to face his parent club and, with Roman Bednar still troubled by a back injury, Luke Moore is favourite to partner Marc-Antoine Fortune in attack.