UK: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Arsene Wenger reflects on busy week at Arsenal ahead of trip to Old Trafford

Record ID: 1534503

  • Title: UK: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Arsene Wenger reflects on busy week at Arsenal ahead of trip to Old Trafford
  • Date: 27th August 2011
  • Summary: LONDON COLNEY, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 26, 2011) (REUTERS) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER SITTING DOWN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ARSENAL SIGN REPORTERS / CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER SAYING: "One of the basic targets of the season was to play in the Champions League so we're reached our first target, that was to fight at the top level. And I think it's 14 consecutive years that we have done it. And if you look (well) in Europe, it's not as easy as it looks because only three teams have achieved that in Europe - Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal Football Club. So that means it's not easy." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER SAYING: "I'm confident that we'll be solid on Sunday and we'll have a good performance. We were big under pressure, you could feel the tension in our side before the Udinese game. After the first game against Udinese, I felt the squad was a bit insecured by the fact we only won 1-0 and the quality of Udinese and that game was in our mind when we played against Liverpool. That is out of the way now and I'm confident you'll see a much more convincing team at Manchester." WENGER NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER SAYING: "First of all I would like to say that that number is wrong. (Laughing) You know me quite well! But no, it's completely wrong and it's nothing to do with how much we rate the player. I believe every negotiations is between two parties and you only have to sell the player if you're alright with the price. In this case, the information is below what has been spoken about." WENGER NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER SAYING: "I'm anxious yes, because I want to do it. And I try everything to do it. But I'm confident as well because we have some good players, good young players who can make a big step very quickly." WENGER NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER SAYING: "It was (still) two special decisions. One - Fabregas was a very special case where we sold the player below market (value) because he wanted absolutely to go there (Barcelona) and only there and we respected that decision, it was not at all a financial decision. The second decision was we were backs to the wall. It was only a one-year contract and he didn't want to extend the contract. So the second decision was more a financial decision, the first was not at all a financial decision." REPORTERS WENGER LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 11th September 2011 13:40
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  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Science,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA9E6MQNG08K80RHNIRBDZLA2S2
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday (August 26) he expected a much more convincing display from Arsenal against Manchester United this week now the club's spot in the group stage of the Champions League is secure.
    The Gunners booked their place in Europe's elite competition after a 2-1 win at Udinese mid-week, a game that followed a less than convincing 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
    It has been another busy week at Arsenal with star midfielder Samir Nasri shifting to Manchester City, becoming the second high profile exit from the North London club following Cesc Fabregas' move to Barcelona.
    Arsenal travel to Old Trafford on Sunday (August 28) and Wenger said the result in Italy has given the side a boost.
    "I'm confident that we'll be solid on Sunday and we'll have a good performance," Wenger told reporters.
    "We were big under pressure, you could feel the tension in our side before the Udinese game.
    "After the first game against Udinese, I felt the squad was a bit insecured by the fact we only won 1-0 and the quality of Udinese and that game was in our mind when we played against Liverpool.
    "That is out of the way now and I'm confident you'll see a much more convincing team at Manchester."
    Wenger also reflected on Arsenal's progression to the group stage of the Champions League for a 14th successive season.
    "One of the basic targets of the season was to play in the Champions League so we're reached our first target, that was to fight at the top level. And I think it's 14 consecutive years that we have done it.
    "And if you look (well) in Europe, it's not as easy as its looks because only three teams have achieved that in Europe - Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal Football Club. So that means it's not easy."
    Meanwhile Wenger has confirmed he wants to add to his squad after having a bid for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill rejected.
    Bolton said they had rejected a "derisory" offer of ����6 million ($9.8m) from Arsenal for the 25-year-old but Wenger insisted the figure quoted was inaccurate.
    "First of all I would like to say that that number is wrong," Wenger said.
    "It's completely wrong and it's nothing to do with how much we rate the player.
    "I believe every negotiations is between two parties and you only have to sell the player if you're alright with the price.
    "In this case, the information is below what has been spoken about."
    While Wenger is keen to add to his squad before the transfer window closes, he was not concerned about his young Gunners group being able to compete with the top sides in the Premier League.
    "I'm anxious yes, because I want to do it. And I try everything to do it," Wenger said of potential additions.
    "But I'm confident as well because we have some good players, good young players who can make a big step very quickly."
    Having lost French midfielder Samir Nasri during the week to Manchester City, Arsenal have money to spend with former captain Cesc Fabregas having also departed in recent times.
    Wenger has explained the rationale behind losing two of his key players.
    "It was (still) two special decisions," he said, "One - Fabregas was a very special case where we sold the player below market (value) because he wanted absolutely to there (Barcelona) and only there and we respected that decision, it was not at all a financial decision.
    "The second decision was we were backs to the wall. It was only a one year contract and he didn't want to extend the contract.
    "So the second decision was more a financial decision, the first was not at all a financial decision."
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