Olympiacos vs Arsenal preview - Wenger rests top Gunners - 7M sport

Olympiacos vs Arsenal preview - Wenger rests top Gunners



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Posted Tuesday, December 06, 2011 by PA

Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal must not worry about the players they have left behind as the Gunners look to finish their Champions League Group F campaign with victory over Olympiacos in Athens.

With qualification already secured for the knockout stages with one match to spare, Wenger elected to bring a mixed squad out to Greece - as the likes of captain Robin van Persie, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Alex Song all remained in London.

Despite only two of the starting XI from the weekend's Barclays Premier League 4-0 win at Wigan being in a youthful 18-man party which boarded the plane from Luton, Wenger insists Arsenal have not travelled to Greece just to make up the numbers.

"It is not who we left at home, it is who will play who is important. Before you make an early judgement, let's wait to see how our team will do," Wenger said.

"We have a very strong team, many of the team have played in the first game against Olympiacos, so give the players who turn up some credit, they will produce a good performance.

"We are unbeaten and want to continue our run, and also to be respectful of everybody else in the group. We have a moral responsibility to play to win tomorrow."

Wenger added: "It is true some players do not play as many games, but they will be even more motivated to show they deserve to play.

"I planned to play this team because I really believed they have given a hard time to Manchester City in the Carling Cup, when many of these players did very well.

"I just left some players at home because I did not want to put them on the bench, I would rather they had training.

"The team will be motivated and absolutely up for it.

"I would be very, very disappointed if our winning attitude was not completely right and I will make sure we walk out there with immense desire to try to win the game."

Midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has battled his way back to fitness following a serious knee injury.

The 19-year-old is relishing another opportunity to stake his claim for a regular first team place in what is set to be a white-hot atmosphere at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

"This is why you are playing for Arsenal, because you are used to dealing with this kind of stuff," said Ghana-born Frimpong, who came to England when he was eight and was brought up near Tottenham.

"When you are a professional footballer, you want to play in those kind of stadiums and environments.

"Tomorrow is going to be a test of character, not only for me but for others and we have to deal with it."

Frimpong admits there were times during his rehabilitation when doubts crept in over whether he would have a future with the Gunners.

"I knew I would come back to playing football, but felt I was never going to get my chance at Arsenal again," said Frimpong, who had impressed alongside England midfielder Jack Wilshere in the 2010 Emirates Cup pre-season tournament before suffering ligament damage during a training session in early August.

He said: "When I had my chance, everything was going well.

"I thought that when I came back, we would have all the other players fit again.

"But in football you cannot predict anything, and I have just carried on from where I left off, and have that chance again.

"Now I have to keep playing well to force the issue of playing in the team."

Wenger has no doubts Frimpong has the strength of character to come through tomorrow's encounter.

"He is a guy you know you can go to war with him, he has a real winner attitude," the Arsenal manager said.

"Now for him it is to take the final step and get a regular place in the Arsenal team."

Wenger added: "He was massively impressive before he got injured, because he had been outstanding in pre-season.

"He struggled to come back and feels he is not completely back to his best, but I think he is - what Manu needs now are competitive games."



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