Wenger defends selection calls as Gunners crash out

ARSENE WENGER became the latest Premier League manager to defend his right to field a weakened team but surely this surprise FA Cup defeat will be rendered irrelevant if he can deliver a first Premier League title in six seasons.

Wenger’s burning desire to start filling up the Emirates trophy cabinet is threatening to extend to another campaign after this premature exit but his decision to field a relatively inexperienced team at the bearpit of the Britannia Stadium was purely designed to protect his mission in the league.

The urbane Frenchman deserves immense credit for masterminding a revival in the domestic campaign, just a matter of weeks after an insipid home defeat to Chelsea, and his rotation policy was unavoidable as he prepares for a quartet of crunch encounters, starting at Aston Villa on Wednesday night.