Gunner Wenger turns up charm offensive on Eastern front

AS East-West tensions escalated amid threats and counterthreats over Syria, Arsene Wenger slipped quietly into the Russian capital, proving to be just the man to send into a diplomatic crisis. There was a gun on his chest but Wenger had the charm turned up, arriving late with a disarming smile through the back door of a press conference room to find his audience facing the other way. Dressed for long-haul comfort in hoodie and runners, the Arsenal boss was delighted to report a warm reception from about 100 supporters at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport and from opponents CSKA. Two football clubs have forged an unlikely bond over the two legs of a Europa League quarterfinal tie framed by the crisis which has erupted since spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury, last month. Arsenal officials insisted they were ‘perfectly happy’ with the arrangements in Moscow for the team and the 300 fans expected to travel from London and have not made any attempt to beef up security. Perhaps some common ground was to be expected. CSKA were formed as the Russian Army team. Arsenal are the Gunners, with their founding connections to the Royal Artillery. ‘Sport can always play a positive role in life,’ said Wenger. ‘Between countries, as well, that is why sport is always an opportunity to facilitate relationships. I am convinced tomorrow night will be normal and the World Cup will be well organised and sport will have a more active role during this period than ever.’ Wenger has his own war to win. He has yet to conquer Europe in over two decades with Arsenal. Doubts cloud his long-term future and success in this campaign with its gateway to the Champions League has become his prime target. ‘The Europa League is important for us, everyone knows that,’ said Wenger. ‘We are at a stage where we focus on it because in the Premier League we have a very, very, very slim chance to move further up so the Europa League is one of the big targets now.’