Wenger refuses to sacrifice League Cup

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has said the club cannot afford to ignore any competition, unlike rival managers who have questioned the value of the League Cup.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho suggested scrapping of the League Cup could help avoid fixture congestion and would help English clubs become more competitive in European competitions.

The Portuguese manager was backed by Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola, who played down the significance of the League Cup.

Wenger’s Arsenal, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years and are playing in the less prestigious Europa League.

“You cannot deliberately sacrifice any competition with the pressure that every club is now under,” Wenger said.

“You know that you could pay the price for it because you know that if you go further in the League Cup, at some stage you play in the semifinal – home and away in January.

“[So] you have the FA Cup, the Premier League and sometimes you lose players in these competitions.”

Wenger was set to face left back Kieran Gibbs last night, who returned with West Brom at the Emirates for the first time since leaving Arsenal in the transfer window.

When asked if Gibbs’ transfer move felt like losing a family member, Wenger replied: “Of course. And I believe that for [players who leave] it must be difficult to make that step.

“He did not ask to leave, it was a mutual decision. He wanted to play – he’s 27, or 28. You want to play at that age.”

The Frenchman also admitted it was also difficult to sell midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool.

The 24-year-old England international has since struggled to make a breakthrough at Anfield, starting only once since joining the Merseyside club last month.

“Of course I sympathise with [Oxlade-Chamberlain], with everybody,” Wenger said.

“But we’re in a job where you have to accept that you are judged every day on your performances.”