Wenger warns Gunners against arrogance

ARSENE WENGER is glad his Arsenal squad are confident they can deliver both Premier League and European glory this season – but warned not to confuse that with “arrogance”.

The Gunners kept up the pressure on leaders Chelsea and Manchester United with a 3-0 win over north London rivals Tottenham, before now turning attention to securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with victory over AZ Alkmaar.

Arsenal have a match in hand on both Chelsea and United, who clash on Sunday, while the Blues travel to Emirates Stadium at the end of the month.

Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin believes the current 11-match unbeaten run is evidence Wenger’s men can compete for top honours.

“I am happy with the confidence,” Wenger declared. “However, you do not have to confuse confidence with arrogance. The confidence comes from that we are in this job to try to win, and I am very happy that the players believe they can do it. I prefer that than for somebody to say ‘maybe we are not strong enough to do it’.”

Although Czech winger Tomas Rosicky is back in the squad following a knee problem, striker Nicklas Bendtner will be out for around a month after suffering a groin injury against Spurs while full-back Gael Clichy is facing a month on the sidelines after suffering a suspected stress fracture in his lower back.

Wenger, meanwhile, has no problem with Stan Kroenke’s continued investment in Arsenal – so long as it never impacts on the way he runs the team.

The American tycoon has edged closer towards the takeover threshold yesterday following the announcement of the purchase of another 427 shares in Arsenal’s parent holding company, at a cost of some £3.6 million (€4m).

The Denver-based sports magnate is now the largest individual shareholder in the Gunners, with a stake of some 29.6% after acquiring more stock from the estate of the late British industrialist Ernest Harrison.

Should Kroenke, or indeed anyone else such as second-largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov, reach a figure of 29.9%, they would, under the City’s financial regulations, be obliged to launch a formal takeover bid.

Wenger, though, insists it remains very much business as usual for him.

“Inside the club, on a daily basis, it does not change anything,” the Arsenal boss said. “As long as I am not told I have to change the way I see the vision for the club on the technical side, as long as nobody interferes with that, then I do not see what kind of impact it could have on me.”