Arsene Wenger has demanded Arsenal use tonight's clash
with Porto to demonstrate they are genuine Champions League
contenders.
The Gunners have been busy addressing the fallout from
Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat by Hull amid accusations of
complacency.
"We had a disappointing result against Hull but I have
been sitting on the bench long enough to know that if we'd played
that match 100 times we'd lose it once," he said.
"I believe we will win tonight. We want to make sure we win and
get the right belief into the game.
"Everybody says we should not have any chance of winning the
Champions League but I believe we have enough quality to do it and
that is what we want to show tonight."
Wenger initially reacted to one of the most embarrassing results
of his 12-year reign by threatening a cull of the players exposed
on the weekend.
Winger Samir Nasri is likely to be restored to the midfield
after recovering from the knee injury that has troubled him since
August.
But with Wenger's anger at the Hull defeat subsiding, the
Arsenal boss' resolve to swing the axe appears to have
softened.
"Players will not be dropped to punish them. Sometimes you make
changes because you consider the other team and the balance in your
own side," he said.
"Sometimes one player is not at his best. If a player is not
playing tonight it's not down to punishment, it's just because of
the rotation in the side.
"You cannot play every single game with the same 11
players."
Porto provide an early shot at redemption following the Emirates
horror show against Hull and Wenger wants to see his side's
character.
"The players were very disappointed after the Hull match and are
focused on tonight's game," Wenger added.
"It is part of a career to deal with disappointments and to show
enough mental strength and desire to go forward.
"The players are desperate to go out and win the game against
Porto."