Wenger: Treat Alkmaar like Tottenham
ARSENAL vs AZ ALKMAAR
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has ordered his players to approach tonight’s Champions League fixture with the same intensity as Saturday’s north London derby.
The fired-up Gunners thumped Tottenham 3-0 at the weekend to keep the heat on Premier League pace-setters Chelsea and Manchester United. Qualification for Europe’s last 16 will be all but cemented if Arsenal beat AZ Alkmaar and Wenger expects the same determination against the Dutch champions.
“We have to show that we can focus every three days, that we can play for each other every three days all along the season, also that we can prepare every game with the same kind of conscientious attitude and that we can win,” he said. “We have to show that we can go into the game with the same seriousness that we have done on Saturday. There are a lot of things that we have still to accomplish. It is all in front of us.”
Arsenal suffered another injury blow yesterday when left-back Gael Clichy was diagnosed with a stress fracture to his back. Youngster Kieran Gibbs is set to replace him.
Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is back in the squad but Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson are both sidelined.
Wenger, meanwhile, brushed aside questions about Stan Kroenke, after the club’s largest shareholder yesterday edged close to a takeover offer by raising his stake to 29.6 per cent.
The Frenchman said: “Inside the club, on a daily basis, it does not change anything.”