Wenger warns against complacency
Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger has told his players there will be
no room for complacency when they host SK Slavia Praha in the UEFA
Champions League seeking a 12th consecutive victory in all
competitions.
Exceptional form
With maximum points from their first two Group H games, Wenger
believes the Premier League leaders will be "90 per cent" along the
way to qualifying if they secure another win on Tuesday. But
despite Arsenal's exceptional form, their manager, who celebrated
his 58th birthday on Monday, is refusing to underestimate a Slavia
side who eliminated AFC Ajax and then beat FC Steaua Bucureşti
before slipping to a 4-2 defeat at Sevilla FC.
'Mental test'
"It's a typical, tricky tie," Wenger said. "We could think that,
because we beat [AC] Sparta Praha [in the third qualifying round],
we'll beat Slavia too. But the Champions League doesn't work like
that. We needed to dig deep to beat Steaua. Slavia also beat Steaua
and they scored two goals at Sevilla. This is another good mental
test."
'Big warning'
The 2006 finalists fell to PSV Eindhoven in the first knockout
round last term and while that result still rankles with Wenger, he
is convinced his team are better equipped now. "The PSV game must
serve as a big warning," the Frenchman said. "You never have easy
games in this competition. But we've learned from our mistakes and
I feel our teamwork is better. Before, we conceded a lot from
counterattacks and set-pieces but now we're stronger in
defence."
Walcott praise
Wenger will be counting on returning captain William Gallas to
strengthen a back four shorn of the injured Philippe Senderos,
while Theo Walcott could start on the right wing following an
impressive cameo in Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers FC,
with Aleksandr Hleb handed a more central role in place of
knee-injury victim Robin van Persie. "The timing and quality of his
movement are good and he's back to the level he had before his
injury," Wenger said of the teenager.
Vlček role
Slavia's domestic progress has been almost as impressive as that of
the English pacesetters: they lead the Czech 1. Liga by five points
having won eight out of ten games, including Friday's 3-0 triumph
over FC Viktoria Plzen. Stanislav Vlček, who took his goal tally to
seven with two against Plzen, should lead the visitors' attack as
coach Karel Jarolím opts for a patched-up five-man midfield that
should feature fit-again players Daniel Pudil (foot) and Michal
vec (toe).
'Small miracle'
Midfield trio Vladimír micer, Duan vento and Petr Janda, and
defensive pair Martin Latka and Erich Brabec, have all stayed in
the Czech Republic with injuries. Yet despite the depleted nature
of his squad, Jarolím is in upbeat mood, saying: "Arsenal are one
of the best teams in Europe but we won't commit the same mistakes
we made in Sevilla. Our players must be at the top of their games
and we must play as a team, both in defence and attack. Everyone is
beatable even Arsenal. They're the favourites to win the group
but there's no reason why we can't create a small miracle."
