Arshavin calls for rearguard action

ANDREY ARSHAVIN maintains Arsenal must improve as a defensive unit — and until that happens, Arsene Wenger’s men just have to score more than they let in.

Arsenal have been criticised for a soft centre this season, which saw them beaten in their last two Champions League away games to leave qualification for the knockout stage dependant on beating Group H whipping boys Partizan Belgrade at Emirates Stadium tonight.

Arshavin, who has six goals so far, believes the Gunners need to tighten up if they are to push on and have a successful campaign.

“We struggle all the time in defence. We have to score more than we concede. That’s it,” said the Russian.

“It is very frustrating. We are trying to improve, but we can’t. We don’t just blame our defenders. Sometimes I can’t run, and let defenders cross so the forwards score a goal. It doesn’t always depend on defenders. As a team we need to improve defensively.”

Arshavin believes while Arsenal have blown their chances of finishing top of the group to secure seeding for the knockout stage, the Gunners should not fear anybody.

“I think we have no chance of topping the group,” he said. “It is disappointing, but we always knew Shakhtar and Braga were good teams, especially at home. Unfortunately they showed that against us. We will get a difficult draw, but Arsenal want to win the Champions League and if you want to win it you have to play the best teams, like Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s in the last 16, quarter-finals or semi-finals.”

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger maintains Samir Nasri has all the qualities to follow Thierry Henry and become Footballer of the Year — so long as he continues to help drive Arsenal towards collective success.

“We are in the middle of the season now and I will be happy for him if he becomes Player of the Year — but what is the most important for me is that the club wins,” said Wenger.

“The consequence if the club wins is that the players have a chance to win. I believe the priority is not to win individual awards — the most important thing is that the players focus on making their club win.”

Wenger continued: “Samir Nasri is an intelligent player and understands he plays where he can help the team the most. He has become more efficient and is maturing.

“Nasri is only 23 years old and at that age you develop. When Thierry Henry came here he was 23 already and still developed a lot so that means there is a lot more to come from Nasri, Fabregas and all these players, so they are not players who are at the end of their improvement.”

Arsenal have been proactive in tying up their young talent on long-term deals, with a lucrative extension until 2015 likely to be on offer for Nasri.

Arsenal will have Laurent Koscielny available tonight after the centre-half was given the all-clear following a nasty clash of heads with Sebastien Squillaci in the build-up to Fulham’s goal on Saturday, but his replacement Johan Djourou, who is carrying a thigh problem, will not be risked.

Holland forward Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, who both came off the bench against the Cottagers, are in contention to start a match which Arsenal must win to make sure they secure qualification for the last 16.