Wenger reluctant to take Cesc risk
The skipper has trained with the squad but Wenger will not be taking any risks with his talisman.
“We will not take an unreasonable gamble, that is for sure, even if it is a big game,” the Arsenal boss said.
“We have to assess if it is a risk for him to play, is he ready to play in a very intense game, then I will make a decision.
“But overall I am more focused on the team performance than on any individual performance, You know you only win any big game if the whole team competes well.”
Wenger says playmaker Andrey Arshavin is not a source of frustration because he is following his manager’s instructions.
The Russian burst onto the Premier League scene in the first half of 2009 and has always been a regular source of goals for Arsenal, but he has not been at his sparkling best this season.
That was certainly the case against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday night when little came off for the 29-year-old before he was replaced by Theo Walcott in the second half.
But Wenger is not concerned. As he explained yesterday, Arshavin is charged with the responsibility of making the decisive yet difficult passes that open up defences — and is therefore more prone to errors.
“He has a game that is based on risk,” said Wenger.
“He tries to make incisive passes so of course when he takes one risk and it doesn’t work for him, he takes another one. So sometimes people are impatient with his decision making.
“But if you look at the numbers of Arshavin in the Premier League you will see that he is the best passer and has more assists than anybody so that means [his game is] based on gambling but as well [it is] very efficient.
“He doesn’t frustrate me because I invite him to play the game that is Arshavin’s game. That means to go forward and provoke.
“There are some days it doesn’t work but Arshavin has great quality: he analyses very well, is very honest and has a fantastic objective assessment of his own performance. He is very demanding for himself so I have a huge respect for him.”
Wenger also rubbished reports out-of-favour goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is leaving the club, with Malaga believed to be interested.
The 33-year-old Spaniard is nearing a return to action after an elbow injury.
“I heard it is his agent who talks about that but at the moment he has no agent. So I cannot see what kind of agent can talk on his behalf. We never talked about him leaving, never,” said Wenger.
Meanwhile, United boss Alex Ferguson has reported a clean bill of health for his squad.
Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes have returned to training after hamstring and groin problems respectively, while Jonny Evans and Wes Brown have recovered from a virus. It is United’s first league outing since smashing seven goals past Blackburn and they are bidding to extend a five-match unbeaten run against the Gunners.
Ferguson, however, has dismissed the notion of his unbeaten United side matching the achievement of the 2003/04 Arsenal side by going the rest of the Premier League season without losing.
However, the United manager believes the unpredictability of this year’s Premier League has put paid to any hopes of sustaining an unbeaten record.
Ferguson said: “It won’t happen again. The time Arsenal did it they had 12 draws. It was a great achievement but in this present league you cannot think for a minute you will go through undefeated.
“It is an amazing league this year. We keep looking at the points we have dropped and I am sure Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham will all be saying the same.”
Snoods may be sweeping football but they will never be found in the Manchester United dressing room.
A growing number of players have started to wear the garment in an effort to keep their necks warm.
But, at a time when match officials are sporting gloves and tracksuit bottoms, as all five did at Old Trafford for Tuesday’s Champions League draw with Valencia, Alex Ferguson has issued a ban.
“U won’t see a Man Utd player wearing a SNOOD,” confirmed United defender Rio Ferdinand on his Twitter page.
Meanwhile, the Chilean miners trapped underground for two months earlier this year will be guests of honour at Manchester United’s top-of- the-table clash with Arsenal on Monday.
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