NEW RECRUITS ON THE WAY
Wenger eyes reinforcements as troubled Arsenal face Chelsea
LONDON 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 Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez could be sold to Manchester City and Wenger wants several fresh faces to arrive 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 Mavropanos who looks quite good in training but apart from that, we have not done anything. We will be out there to do something.”
Arsenal’s last League Cup-winning campaign came in the preWenger 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 (Wednesday).
But the Gunners, who drew both Premier League encounters with Chelsea this season, haven’t won at their London rivals since 2011.
Fo r t u n a t e l y f o r We n g e r, 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 we have to play a semifinal against Arsenal. I think we deserve to reach this target.
“It’s very important in this mo- ment 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. AFP