Wenger plans to rely on reserves for Cup defence

Arsène Wenger has reiterated his belief that finishing fourth in the Premiership - and qualifying for next season's Champions' League - is "more important than winning a trophy".

Arsenal may be the FA Cup holders but their manager said that they will leave out players and field a weakened team in the fourth-round tie against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday because of the Premiership games to come.

"We will rest many players on Saturday," Wenger said, after the extra-time exertions in the Carling Cup semi-final exit to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening. "We will not take a chance in the FA Cup." Wenger confirmed that Thierry Henry - who is suffering from a hamstring problem - Sol Campbell and Lauren will "all be rested". He added: "They will not be in a position where they can play or at least play without a risk. We will focus on the Premiership to get in the Champions' League positions." The priority, Wenger said, was next week's League games against West Ham United and Birmingham City and the attempt to overhaul Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

Dennis Bergkamp, who played the full 120 minutes against Wigan, a game that Arsenal won 2-1 but went out on the away-goals rule, is unlikely to be risked while Alexander Hleb could also be rested. Pascal Cygan is still injured and the fitness of Ashley Cole - who yesterday lost his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the £75,000 fine imposed for breaking Premier League rules by discussing a move to Chelsea last season - is still to be assessed.

Wenger's hard-headed approach is understandable given how vital it is, financially, for Arsenal to be in the Champions' League, especially for the season that they move into their new Emirates Stadium and with the steep demands of Henry's new contract to be met. But it is still a little disappointing given it is their trophy to retain.

Henry admitted that the team are "learning the hard way" at present while Wenger once again criticised his players for "naïve" defending. "Last minute, our goal-kick, they hit a long ball and they score," he said. "We were beaten in the same way at Everton. That was naive with the experience we have in the side."

If they lose to Bolton it will be the second time this season Arsenal have lost three games in a row. Their chances would be boosted if Cole was fit to return. But he suffered a thigh injury, on his return against Middlesbrough two weeks ago after a stress fracture to his foot, and suffered another setback yesterday when he lost his appeal against his fine.

The CAS have ruled that the appeal filed by Cole was "not admissible" because it had "no jurisdiction to rule on the dispute between Mr Cole and the Football Association Premier League".