Fear factor taking over, says Wenger
ARSENE Wenger will attempt to use Arsenal’s opening Champions League game against FC Thun at Highbury tonight to allay fears over the club’s poor Premiership start and show their rivals that a positive approach is the only way forward.
The Swiss side, more used to InterToto participation than the Champions League, fear a backlash from Arsenal’s defeat at Middlesbrough.
Arsenal’s manager admitted that recent trends have left him fearing for the game. “I am very concerned about the fact that teams are not trying to play, even at home,” Wenger said. “ The attraction of English football has always been the positive attitude, but I feel there is a trend at the moment to play less attractive.
“I don’t want to talk too much about it at the moment because we are not winning and people will see it as me complaining.
“ I try to be very objective. Whether you win or lose isn’t important; it is important that you play.”
Wenger has Sol Campbell in his squad for the fi rst time this season but the England defender is unlikely to start. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is suspended and Wenger confirmed that injured French striker Thierry Henry could be out for up to six weeks.
After two defeats in the Premiership, at Chelsea and Middlesbrough, Arsenal turn to the relief of a Champions League opener against a side making their debut in the competition.
But it is the negative approach by others in the Premiership that is concerning Wenger, who added: “Teams are copying the more cautious approach in Europe. “I just feel there is a trend coming into this league at the moment to play a little bit more cautious. Is it good or bad? I don’t know. I just feel it is l ike that and there are less chances.
“It would be interesting to analyse how many shots on goal you have per game at the moment and how many you had two or three years ago. Maybe it is a fear factor about losing.
“It’s not down to me to say what will happen, but I feel there is a little bit less of a risk in the English game at the moment.
“I don’t want to single us out as the only ones who play football, it’s not that. I just feel there’s a slight trend for a more cautious approach, and that we have more problems to create chances. Teams are more cautious against us and are more cautious in other games.”
Wenger could recall Freddie Ljungberg to midfield but Swiss international Philippe Senderos may have to settle for a place alongside Campbell on the substitutes’ bench.
Robin Van Persie should replace Henry after coming through a robust challenge in training with team-mate Emmanuel Eboue.
Thun, second in the Swiss league last season behind Basle, will take around 800 fans to Highbury.
They are missing defender Lauren’s Cameroon international team-mate, Armand Deumi, but captain Andreas Gerber is expected to have recovered from an Achilles tendon injury. Thun also include Swiss international striker Mauro Lustrinelli. Arsenal ( probable, 4- 4- 2): Almunia; Lauren, Cygan, Toure, Cole; Ljungberg, Gilberto, Hleb, Pires; Bergkamp, Reyes. FC Thun ( probable, 4- 4- 2): Jakupovic; Orman, Hodzic, Milicevic, Goncalves; Gerber, Bernardi, Aegerter, Leandro; Gelson; Lustrinelli. Referee: G Gilewski ( Poland).