Wenger accentuates positives

ARSENE WENGER’S determination to banish all negative thoughts ahead of tonight’s crunch Champions League clash with Porto at Emirates Stadium has extended to a refusal to practise penalties or wallow in the absence of talisman, Cesc Fabregas.

Wenger revealed last night that he did not let his players practise penalties in training yesterday because he doesn’t want to risk any “psychological scars” if tonight’s second leg goes down to the wire.

At the same stage last season, Wenger’s men squeezed past Roma via spot-kicks. At his pre-match press conference, Wenger confirmed that his side are fully prepared to go the same route this term – and that is why he omitted spot-kicks from Monday’s session.