Wenger Down To 'Bare Bones' For Man Utd Clash

Arsene Wenger has just 14 fit players for the FA Cup fifth round clash against Manchester United, and is facing a massive problem trying to put together a competitive eleven.

Nine Definitely Out

It had emerged last evening that around three players were out of the Old Trafford game, but a number of other doubtful players have also been ruled out since.

Those who are definitely out are Tomas Rosicky, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou, Alexandre Song, Manuel Almunia, Abou Diaby, Denilson and Bacary Sagna.

That has left the Arsenal manager with only fourteen outfield players, of which Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flaminu are also doubtful.

"We are really touched severely by injuries," said Wenger. "It is a period when you don't want to lose players because these are decisive months."

"If you lose players now they could be out for the rest of the season. "We are down to the bare bones because we have just 14 players."

Late Decision

Wenger will be wary of taking any risks with the Champions League clash against Milan in mind, which means he might be left with a make-shift squad to take on a full strength Manchester United side - boosted by the return of Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Louis Saha.

"Everybody travels and I will make a late decision on Saturday morning to see who I give a breather to," he added.

"I have to decide who is in the most danger. I will make a check with the medical people and then make a decision."

Play To Win

However, he rubbished any talk of being conservative, insisting Arsenal would play with their best possible eleven, and play to win.

"It is a priority because it is the next game," he quipped. "We are on a good run and we want to keep that going. It is always difficult to measure the influence of a lost game compared with the benefit of resting players.

"We have a tricky week because have Milan on Wednesday and Birmingham on Saturday but we play Manchester United and we want to win. We will put out the strongest team possible."

No Mind Games Please

However, he was not too keen on the psychological impact of the game on the title race, insisting he would have preferred a smaller team.

"I'm wasn't jumping through the roof when I heard we were playing Manchester United away from home. I wanted a small team at home," he admitted.

"But that is the charm of the cup. Sometimes it is easier to play away against a big team because they have to come at you so you get some space. What you don't want at the moment is a draw because we have too many fixtures and we have a small squad."

Hleb Pays Tribute To Adebayor

Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb has paid tribute to the goalscoring exploits of his team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Togolese international has scored 16 goals in 24 games in the Premier League this season and Belarus international Hleb believes this is the main reason why the Gunners currently sit on top of the table, five points ahead of Manchester United.

"He's been in fantastic form. It's great for him and it's great for the team," said Hleb.

"Now with important games such as Manchester United and AC Milan and others coming up, it's ideal to have a striker who is taking his chances whichever way they come and showing such all-round ability."

Hleb also said that Adebayor's form has helped the Arsenal squad get over the 5-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham in the Carling Cup.

“It was very important for us to get things right again after the Spurs defeat," noted the midfielder.

Hleb's praise for the striker comes in the same week that saw Adebayor move into top spot in the Actim Index, the official player ratings system of the Premier League. He also received a complimentary text message from Thierry Henry.

"Everything is coming off for him at the moment," said Hleb in conclusion.

Pires Hoping For Arsenal Triumph

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires is positive that Arsenal will win either the Premier League or the Champions League this season.

French midfielder Robert Pires feels the Premier League is a two-horse race now, but is hopeful that his former club Arsenal can shade Manchester United in the run in.

If not, he's hopeful that the Gunners will land the Champions League instead.

The now Villareal player was part of the last Arsenal side to reach the Champions League final, where they lost 2-1 to Barcelona back in 2006, but reckons this current side are better than that one.

"What they are achieving is beautiful in terms of the way they play and I wish them to win something, the Premier League title or the Champions League,” Pires told setantasports.com.

"Once again, Arsene Wenger´s work is quite phenomenal. He brings in players that nobody knows and in two or three seasons they explode.

Depth?
"The Gunners are genuine contenders this season, that is certain," he said, before expressing reservations about Arsenal's strength in depth. "I think that they can (challenge United), but the major different is the depth of the bench at United," he explained.

"But there is a nice mix of players at Arsenal. Some of them are starting to gain experience. Anyway it is going to be a good fight between United and Arsenal, and everybody knows that my heart beats for the Gunners."

El-Hadari Linked With Arsenal Move

Al Ahli’s goalkeeping coach, Ahmed Nagui told filgoal.com that an informal approach has been made by the Premiership giants for the services of Essam El-Hadari.

"We had a verbal approach but we are waiting for an official offer and then we will discuss it," Ahmed Nagui told the Egyptian website.

According to the website, Nagui refused to divulge further information, but sports analyst Khaled Bayoumi confirmed that Arsenal have indeed shown interest, and would be willing to part ways with a sizable sum for the veteran stopper.

"I had this information from internal sources and the offer should arrive in the next few hours," Bayoumi claimed.

Hadari, 35, was inspirational for the Pharaohs at the African Nations Cup, and was duly given the Best Goalkeeper Award.

Fabregas Enters Gunners Contract Talks

Despite having plenty of time left to go on his old contract, Cesc seems willing to answer the call from the London side to commit his future to the club.

He said Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, "I have six years remaining and they are interested in renegotiating.

"I want to succeed at Arsenal and the club wants me. I am from Barcelona and have played there, but I only think of winning many titles here."

Barcelona and Real Madrid both hold a long-term interest in the young Spanish international, but these latest remarks seem to indicate that he is settled and happy in the Premier League.

Cesc was a youth player with FC Barcelona before being lured to Arsenal by coach Arsene Wenger in 2003.

Players targeted by Arsenal.

From top

Yoann Gourcuff(AC Milan)

Aiden McGeady(Celtic)

Serge Gakpe(AS Monaco)

Luka Modric(Dynamo Zagreb)

Artur Boruc(Celtic)

Soufianne Alloudi(Al Ain)

Piet Velthuizen(Vitesse Arnhem)

Karim Benzema(Olympique Lyon)

Johann Vonlanthen(Red Bull Salzburg)

Jimmy Briand(Stade Rennais)

Samir Nasri(Olympique Lyon)

Arsène Wenger: 'We want to grab this chance'

on an important weekend...

"It was a very good weekend for us because after the results of yesterday we were a bit under pressure to take advantage of the situation. We did it - I think we had a good start, with a good drive, going forward for the first twenty minutes, we scored an early goal. The second one didn't come and then Blackburn came back into the game in the last twenty minutes of the first half."

on the second period...

"In the second half I feel always we controlled the game, Friedel kept them in it, we were a little bit in-between 'let's not make a defensive mistake' and 'go forward and score absolutely the second goal' and I think the dominance was a bit in the side tonight - 'let's not make a defensive mistake and we'll score another one'. But overall, that's why I sometimes believed we missed something going forward, but overall Friedel kept them in the game and we scored a goal in the last minute."

on the second period...

"In the second half I feel always we controlled the game, Friedel kept them in it, we were a little bit in-between 'let's not make a defensive mistake' and 'go forward and score absolutely the second goal' and I think the dominance was a bit in the side tonight - 'let's not make a defensive mistake and we'll score another one'. But overall, that's why I sometimes believed we missed something going forward, but overall Friedel kept them in the game and we scored a goal in the last minute."

on the growing pressure...

"I don't know, I feel we handled the pressure every time very well this week, this year, when we had our backs to the wall. For example last week we played first, at Man City, we won. This week we played last and we won as well. So in all the different kind of situation we faced we came up with - the only answer you can give when you are strong is to win your game."

on sitting five points ahead of United...

"I don't want my team to focus on the difference between us and the rest, I want them to focus on strengthening our lead and going to every game to keep that momentum going and assert our authority and to win every game, play like real challengers."

on the fans...

"They were a bit nervy tonight with one-nil. Of course, let's not be a hypocrite, you cannot say you are five points in front and you don't believe... you believe you have no chance, of course our supporters believe - rightly so. We believe we have a chance to do it but we are conscious as well that we have to keep our humility and our team spirit and the way we want to play the game, and focus very well on the way we want to play the game."

on being tipped as favourites...

"I don't know, that is always outside the group, you know? That's in people's minds, in our minds we believe we can do it and we want to grab this chance."

on Adebayor's run of goals...

"He can score goals but I believe as well all the strikers as well benefit from the outstanding teamwork, and it's not a coincidence that strikers who play here score goals because everybody goes forward, everybody gives you good balls and the team feeds you when you're a good striker. Here you get quite good food!"

on Fabregas appearing on the right...

"I had no real choice, Fabregas was three days in bed and credit to him, you know, not only did he play but we took him out of bed to play tonight and we played him in a different position. That shows you as well how much these players are up for it."