Focused Wenger warns against complacency

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned there can be no room for complacency against Champions League Group B whipping-boys Montpellier at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners head into the European clash against the French club boosted by Saturday’s 5-2 trashing of north London rivals Tottenham.

Montpellier, meanwhile, are without a win in their last four matches, and have no chance of making the last 16, bottom of the group with just one point.

Victory for Arsenal, coupled with a home win for Schalke against Olympiacos, would see them qualified ahead of Matchday Six.

Wenger, though, insists his team must go into tonight’s encounter with the correct focus if they are to avoid a second successive home European defeat.

“Not for a second would I think the team will be complacent tomorrow — they will be full of desire to do well and win the game, I am certain of that,” he said.

“It is important on the back of the Tottenham game we show another good performance and a resolute attitude, that is at stake for me tomorrow. After, if we produce the quality performance, we will win the game. We do it step by step. First of all we want to qualify, then try to top the group, so let us just win the game tomorrow.”

Wenger added: “It should be an open game because a draw is not good for either side.”

Arsenal will be desperate to avoid a shoot-out for a place in the knockout stages when they travel to Athens, where they were beaten 3-1 last season and also lost in 2009.

The Gunners will be without Theo Walcott, the winger having suffered a shoulder injury against Spurs.

Winger Gervinho, out since October 27 because of an ankle problem, trained yesterday, as did full-back Kieran Gibbs, who last featured at West Ham on October 6.

Walcott, 23, has yet to agree new deal at Arsenal and could leave at the end of the season on a free transfer.

Wenger has ruled out selling the forward during the January transfer window should the impasse over negotiations not be resolved.

“There is a risk, yes, but that we are ready to take,” said the Gunners boss.

“A successful season is more important for us than this risk that is only a financial risk, apart from the losing the player.

“If we sell him, we lose him anyway.

“I believe that we started the season with this squad and we want to finish the season with this squad.’’

For his part, Montpellier manager Rene Girard insists he remains full of admiration for former striker Olivier Giroud, but will be all out to stop the Arsenal forward netting against his old club tonight.

Giroud netted 21 goals to helped fire Montpellier to the Ligue One title for the first time in their history last season, before joining Arsenal.

After a slow start, the France international has slowly grown into his new side, scoring five goals as many appearances.

Girard said: “Olivier worked very hard for us and we almost sculpted him into the player he is today. We made history at the club and had great times.

“Unfortunately for us, he is rediscovering his best form and starting to score goals, but we have tactics to try to stop him.

“We know how good he is, but there are also lots of attacking threats here at Arsenal.”