Wenger focused on job in hand
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Arsene Wenger says he is concentrating on the players available to him after revealing William Gallas, Andrey Arshavin, Eduardo, Manuel Almunia and Alex Song will all miss the first leg of the Gunners Champions League tie against Porto (7/5 to beat Arsenal in the 90 minute betting) on Wednesday night.
The north London club are already without Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou with Wenger now losing five more players as his bad luck with injuries continues.
Arshavin and Eduardo are both out with hamstring injuries while Song has a knee problem and Gallas continues to struggle with a niggling back injury.
The injuries mean the spot light will be on Sol Campbell (9/1 to score anytime), as he looks set to partner Thomas Vermaelen at the back, and Nicklas Bendtner (2/1) who will lead the line for the Gunners.
Samir Nasri and Thomas Rosickyare poised to join Bendtner in attack with Arsenal (4/9 to qualify for the quarter-finals) short of forward options.
With Porto (50/1 to be Champions League winners) undefeated in the league at the Estádio do Dragão and the Gunners (10/1) having lost on their last two visit to the stadium Wenger knows his side could have a tough night ahead of them.
“Well ideally you wanted them there but I believe it is part of being in this competition, you focus on the players who play and not on those who don’t play,” said Wenger.
“The real question is can you make a good result with all the players who don’t go to Portugal and I am convinced yes, so let’s focus on the players who play.”
Don’t forget to check out Totesport.com’s Champions League ante-post betting markets.
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