Transcript of Wenger Press Conference Ahead of City Clash

Arsene Wenger faced the media ahead of the crunch tie against title rivals Manchester
City. Below is the full transcript of his press conference.

Clarify the situation with Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy.

Both had surgery yes, though I’m not sure of the problem but we have seen last week against Stoke, and Mikel Arteta for ongoing problem with his ankle that promotes certain injuries in his calf but Arteta could be shorter than Debuchy. Arteta could be 6 weeks, and Debuchy 3 months

Is the Arteta blow cushioned with the fact that Coquelin is playing pretty well at the moment?

Look, Francis Coquelin is playing well, but let’s not forget Arteta was out for a long time before that, and Flamini, Coquelin played in his position, and he played only 5 premier league games since the start of the season anyway.

It’s a good news on the injury front though with the likes of Aaron Ramsey coming back, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott

They were already available for last week, then again for Sunday is.

And Kieran Gibbs is coming back?

Gibbs has a test today. He should come back in the squad.

Any update on Jack Wilshere?

He’s doing very well. He’s a bit ahead of schedule. We always said end of February he should be alright.

How much confidence would it give the side to get a big win against direct rivals?

From every big game you gain confidence when the result is positive of course, but I think we are just focused to go there and give ourselves a chance to win by putting a great performance in. We want to have a good balance between attacking and defending because you know that city attacks very well, so it’s important that we do both sides of the game very well.

Last week you indicated that Danny Welbeck might be available this week

Yeah, that was a wrong hope.

So how much longer is he likely to be out?

I think he has 2 more weeks.

Who will play in goal this weekend?

I have not decided yet.

How do you feel David Ospina has done having come into the squad?

He’s done very well.

Can you give any encouragement for Wojciech Szczesny then?

Yes of course, I rate highly Szczesny, but I don't think what is our problem on Sunday is an individual, it’s our team commitment, and no matter who plays, it’s important that the team performs and the guy who plays plays well.

You don’t have a very good record in Manchester with just one point overall out of a possible 21. What do you think that is down to?

The quality of their teams always, they have always good teams, but we have as well won at Manchester, we have won at man united, we won at man city and I think history will not play a big part in that game. It’s the performance that will play a big part, the biggest part, and the only important part.

Matches against Manchester city over 6 seasons have certainly produced a lot of goals. Last season you lost 6-3. 28 goals in the last 7 matches.

Yes but last year if you watch well the game that was under special circumstances. We missed many chances, we played with 10 men to finish ad we had to go forward and we had just a very difficult trip in Naples 3 days before and we played Wednesday night in Naples and Saturday morning at 12:45 at man city with 10 men.

6 red cards in the last 9 matches. Is that an indication of how much it matters to both teams?

Yes, it’s commitment and refereeing decisions. Like you know the big games and of course it’s important that we keep our calm and control and are committed as well to find that right balance between going to have a challenge but as well not go overboard and respect the rules.

Mesut Ozil has said he still thinks it’s still possible for arsenal to win the title. Is this the kind of game you have to win for that to happen?

That we want to win, and you have to die and you want to win. But we want is to put the maximum effort to be as close as possible to give ourselves a chance. Mathematically, we are not in the best position but what we want to do is to give ourselves a chance to come as close as possible and put a top level performance in.

You told us last week that Krystian Bielik that he was a player you were following. Is he at your medical today?

Yes

And if that’s all good, will he become an arsenal player?

Yes

Has the fee been agreed between the 2 teams?

Yes

How do things stand in terms of bringing other players in. is Winston Reid someone you are looking at?

Of course. We are out on the market, and we work very hard everyday. All our scouts, all our people are working very hard to find a defender.

What about Gundogan. Is he someone you are interested in?

He’s not a defender. No at the moment we are more looking for the defensive department

This week we've seen the ballon d'or. Who would you cast your vote for if you could?

I would not vote any ballon d'or. I'm totally against it. I'm a team lover and a specialist of somebody who loves team work, and i'm completely against that. I would not vote anybody.

As a French man, would you like to see David Ginola as FIFA president?

You will accuse us of having control of world football if Ginola FIFA president and Platini UEFA president that has very little chance to happen. Let’s be realistic you know

Arsene, the Manchester city game now. Is that the game as a student of football that you look most forward to?

Yeah, you have many games where you know you will be judged on about your potential. Man city is of course one of them. You have always man united Chelsea, Liverpool. These are the games where people have a close eye on to judge about your potential.

Is it frustrating for you that they've gone out and bought Wilfried Bony for 25 million?

I don’t know. They must have the availability, and the financial fair play allows them to do it, I don’t know. It was a surprise yes

How do you react to it. Is it frustrating?

No. I'm not frustrated. Man city has had huge financial potential for long long years now and we know that, it’s part of our game, and we have to deal with it.

Pellegrini said this week that Alexis Sanchez he thinks is the best player in the best player in the premier league at the moment

It’s a great compliment, because Pellegrini knows well football, he’s a specialist

Do you agree with him?

I agree that at the moment he is one of the top performers in the premier league

Roy Hodgson this week had to scrap his plans for an England get together

He spoke to me about that. First of all it was not the best location for a get together, and after that it was 48 hours before a premier league game, and of course the managers do not want their players to travel 2 days before the game. Its good to have a get together for Roy Hodgson but maybe the date was not the best.

Did you say you didn't want them to go, your players?

No I said to him look I want to see that we play on Sunday or Saturday, how long will it last, he told me it will be 6-9, that is quite acceptable, but he canceled it because some people refused to let their players go.

But you weren't one of them?

No

Sorry to bring up your records against the top 4 teams last year, but uh…..

You’re not too sorry.

Do you think it’s down to the way you prepare for the game?

No. not all, because I think it’s down to the quality of your performance and sometimes to the fact that we were depleted in some games, we just spoke about the fact that we played a vital game for the qualification in champions league last year just before, we missed many chances over there but look history is history. We are here to change history.

Manchester city are full of goals. Does that mean your defenders have to be on their toes for the whole 90 minutes?

Of course. We know that. We know this is a team that can create chances and our defensive performance will be vital.

Does Francis Coquelin offer an internal solution to the defensive midfield problems perhaps?

He’s an internal solution of course.

Just one question from me, what are your thoughts on Monreal’s performances this season, is he may be up there with Alexis Sanchez as one of the top performers?

Yes. He has been one of the most consistent players and I must say when you play centre back, you get stronger and stronger game after game, and he did very well and even in our last game against stoke, he played very well.

Let’s talk about your record away from home against the top 4. You actually had the best away record together with Liverpool last season. Yet you did lose those big games against city, Chelsea, against man united. Is there a self belief issue in the squad?

Maybe. I believe we have consistency, and you are right. Last year we did not win the championship for that only reason. We did not perform in the top games away from home, and I believe we have the potential now to be much more stable, and to show that we can do it.

Do you think that has been the biggest weakness over the last few years?

Yes. It has been. For long years, it was our strength, and in the last few years, its true that it has been a weakness that I think we are mature enough to rectify it.

How is Mathieu Debuchy?

He’s distraught Mathieu Debuchy, because he is such a clean player. So professional, so willing, and it’s his first year here, and he’s embarrassed, but it’s not his fault. The push was not needed. I watched the game again and that situation, he was a bit unlucky as well because he was a little just after the touchline, and maybe that made it worse.

You said the push was un-necessary. Should there be some action taken?

I don’t know. I just know he had no chance to get the ball, that’s what I mean. I don't think it was malicious, but it was not needed,, because he had no chance of getting the ball.

It looked quite Cynical

I’m not a specialist in the subject. These things are very sensitive, and I don't really know what was his intention you know. Its difficult, I don't know what was his intentions. I don't think he wanted to hurt him, but it was not needed

There’s a big debate going on about who is the better player out of Sergio Aguero, and Alexis Sanchez. Do you think we are seeing the best 2 players in the premier league on Sunday?

Look there are some other great players in the premier league, but they are certainly 2 of the most performing since the start of the season. Aguero has a bit been less consistent because he was more injured and I think in the last year aguero had a bit suffered from being in and out, but of course he’s a world class player.

Alexis obviously his first season here, he’s gone through this Christmas period. How are his energy levels now? Is he still were he was a few months ago?

He’s full of energy you know, and full of enthusiasm as well. What is fantastically refreshing when you see the number of games he’s played, he’s always keen to go out and play, and not have a bad year. When he plays in his game, he’s always full of enthusiasm and of desire to do well, and of to take people on, and to fight to get the ball back, and it’s infectious, and it’s fantastic