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Wenger eyes new recruits as troubled Arsenal face Chelsea test
LONDON, Jan 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal flops
that new recruits are on the way as the furious Gunners boss prepares for
Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Wenger’s side suffered one of the most chastening defeats of his
increasingly tarnished reign on Sunday as second tier Nottingham Forest won
4-2 in the FA Cup third round.
It was the first time Wenger had crashed out at that stage of the
competition since arriving at the north London club in 1996.
Wenger’s decision to make nine changes backfired, with the understudies
delivering a listless display at the City Ground.
The Frenchman prioritised the League Cup showdown with Chelsea by keeping
his main men fresh for the first leg clash at Stamford Bridge means he can
ill-afford a damaging defeat against Antonio Conte’s men.
But regardless of Arsenal’s League Cup fortunes, Wenger has clearly had
enough of another underachieving season which sees his team in danger of
failing to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive year.
Wenger insists the Gunners, who last week signed Greek defender
Konstantinos Mavropanos, will do further business during the transfer window
in an effort to turn things around.
Unsettled Chile forward Alexis Sanchez could be sold to Manchester City
and Wenger wants several fresh faces to arrival as soon as possible.
Asked whether there could be developments this week, Wenger said: “Yes,
because we are in the second week of January and, after that, it passes
quickly.
“We signed a Greek boy (Mavropanos) who looks quite good in training but
apart from that, we have not done anything. Will we be out there to do
something? Yes we will.”
– Breaking point –
Arsenal’s last League Cup-winning campaign came in the pre-Wenger era in
1993, with the Frenchman’s team losing in both his final appearances in 2007
and 2011.
To return to the final, Wenger knows Arsenal need a positive result at the
Bridge ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on January 24.
But the Gunners, who drew both Premier League encounters with Chelsea this
season, haven’t won at their London rivals since 2011.
Fortunately for Wenger, Chelsea are in the midst of a hectic schedule that
Conte admits is stretching his squad to breaking point.
Having complained all season that Chelsea don’t have enough depth to cope
with the demands of competing in four competition, Conte’s fears are coming
true.
The Italian made a host of changes for Saturday’s FA Cup third round draw
at second tier Norwich, but Chelsea were well below their best, prompting
Conte to bemoan the demands put on his players.
“When you play every three days and you have to play many games, it means
you are facing every competition,” Conte said.
“Now on Wednesday we have to play a semi-final against Arsenal. I think we
deserved to reach this target.
“It’s very important in this moment of the season to have all the squad in
the best physical form, because you have to play a lot of games and everyone
must be ready.”
Chelsea are bidding to reach the League Cup final for the first time since
they last won the tournament in 2015.
That would be a huge boost for Conte, who has found himself embroiled in a
bitter feud with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho in recent weeks.
BSS/AFP/ARS/0932 hrs