Arsene Wenger 'worried' that his Arsenal players cannot 'absorb the blows' of defeat
Arsenal travel to Germany next week to take on Bayern Munich, who they trail 3-1 after the first leg
Thursday 07 March 2013
Related articles
-
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood denies knowledge of rumoured Middle East takeover
-
Victory over Bayern Munich has inspired Arsenal for season run-in claims Steve Bould
-
Arsene Wenger: If we beat Bayern Munich, Arsenal can win the Champions League
-
Arsène Wenger admits facing 'impossible' task to save Arsenal's season
Humiliated by Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, outclassed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and trailing their greatest rivals by seven points in the Premier League.
The all-too familiar 'business end' capitulation that has taken place at Arsenal this season and the affect it may have on the players is a source of concern for Arsene Wenger.
Technically the Gunners could still win the Champions League, but trailing their German opponents 3-1 after the first leg, few are backing them to advance - meaning another season with no silverware.
But Arsenal still have all to fight for, with a top-four finish in the Premier League, and the Champions League qualification that comes with it, still in sight.
It will be a tall order to haul in Chelsea, who are five points ahead, and rivals Tottenham, who are seven ahead after their victory in the north London derby.
Wenger says he is ready for the fight but has admitted his concern about the mental state of his players and the impact it could have.
Wenger said: “I am not worried about us potentially coming back against Bayern, I am more worried about consequences that could manifest in the heads of our players.
“You will never know how they can absorb those blows and how the team respond to disappointment. This is the most worrying aspect for me.
“But from the experience of how to handle the end of the season, we know how to deal with that. We have had lots of experience.
“Of course, you are not feeling great if you can’t win, but we can stay solid or crack under the pressure.
“If you want to know, I am still solid but I can’t tell you that I feel great right now because my job is about winning games and when you lose you will not find a single coach in this world who feels very good.”
Arsenal have arguably the easiest run-in of their rivals in the fight to secure Champions League football for a 16th consecutive season. Of the League’s top six, the Gunners only have to play Manchester United and Everton — both at home — but their final 10 matches begin with a difficult trip to Capital One Cup winners Swansea.
Wenger’s side have not won on either of their visits to the Liberty Stadium since Swansea were promoted back to the Premier League.
“We are in a situation right now where our objective is just to qualify for the Champions League — so we can’t drop points any more,” said the 63-year-old.
“Contrary to our two cup defeats we are on a good run in the Premier League actually — with the two big blows in just three days in the cups. We need to recover, and that will define the rest of our season.”
Arsenal are hopeful Kieran Gibbs will be available against Bayern report The Evening Standard after the left-back returned to full training following a thigh injury. His progress will be closely monitored but, at this stage, it is expected he will only be fit enough for a place among the substitutes.
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
New day (slowly) rising – As Brasileirão gets underway, Brazilian football stumbles, rather than leaps into the future
The average Serie A crowd last year was 13,000 - comparable to Australia’s A-League.
by James Young
24 May 2013 04:31 PM
iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco
Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...
by Gareth Purnell
24 May 2013 02:00 AM
On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages
Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...
by Martin Ayres
23 May 2013 05:29 PM
-
Why Manchester City were willing to fork out $500m on stake in MLS
-
Manchester City coach in waiting Manuel Pellegrini: Inside the mind of anti-Mancini
-
Champions League final: Biggest German invasion since the fifth century as Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund
-
Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich: 50 things you need to know about the Champions League final
-
Champions League Final: Can Jürgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund stop the Bayern Munich machine?
- 1 What, let gays get married? We must be bonkers
- 2 Rocky Horror star Tim Curry 'suffers major stroke'
- 3 Exclusive: How MI5 blackmails British Muslims
- 4 Lord of the Sings: Sir Christopher Lee, 91, to release heavy metal album
- 5 Exclusive: Woolwich killings suspect Michael Adebolajo was inspired by cleric banned from UK after urging followers to behead enemies of Islam
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions
In pictures: After the flood
Death becomes her: A very modern mortician
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery
The man who's eaten everywhere
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?
,



Comments