Arsene Wenger Calls For More Self-Belief At Arsenal

Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by Goal.com

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on his players to show more confidence and belief in their own abilities as they look to end the club's trophy drought this campaign.

The Gunners have emerged as perhaps surprisingly strong contenders for the Premier League title this season, and are in the knockout phase of the Champions League.

But Wenger feels that his young squad must maintain their confidence if they are to succeed in either competition.

"It is an exciting period for us, because we are in a very good position," the Frenchman told reporters at a press conference.

"We have a good level of confidence and know that with so many big games, psychologically it is important to go in with a high level of confidence, so every result has an influence on the next one.

"Is it make or break? I make it a good opportunity to strengthen our position in the league. That is how I see it.

"We have taken 23 points out of the last nine games so let's keep our momentum going.

"We are on a strong run and we have a good opportunity to extend it and strengthen our position in the league tomorrow night.

"We want to take advantage of that."

Wenger also believes that this season's title race is so tight that goal difference could yet be the deciding factor in May.

For that reason he has urged his players to keep playing in the entertaining, attacking way that they know best.

"It could be that tight," the Gunners boss mused.

"Let's go well through the next four games and then we will see what the situation is.

"The goal difference is an indication of the quality of the teams - it is 34 for the top three and after that it goes down to 20.

"There is always another way [to play], but the way we have chosen is to score goals.

"The fact that we have a good goal difference speaks well for us.

"I believe we are improving our defensive record, even if we conceded a few goals recently.

"I feel we are stable enough to go into big games and keep clean sheets."

Meanwhile, Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue are set to return from the African Cup of Nations this week.

Wenger thinks his men have coped well in Song's absence and he will give the player a little more time to recover from the tournament in Africa before returning him to the team.

"We will see how he comes back. I must say he looked tired in the game yesterday," he added.

"I believe you focus always on the players who play.

"We won twice against Bolton, so we cannot complain.