Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal cannot be content with just third place in the Barclays Premier League, but urged his squad to finish a testing campaign on a high. The Gunners host Chelsea on Saturday aiming to recover quickly from a lacklustre 2-1 home defeat by Wigan on Monday night to keep themselves on track for automatic qualification. Arsenal hold a five-point lead over rivals Tottenham and Newcastle heading into this weekend's fixtures, while they are seven in front of the Blues, but having played a match more. Just to be in this position is something of an achievement within itself, considering Arsenal's appalling start to the domestic campaign which saw them lose four of their first seven games and slip down as low as 17th. However, the fact the Gunners are not now fighting for the championship itself will continue to rest uneasy with the Frenchman, whose side last lifted a trophy in 2005.
Wenger said: "We want more, but where we are at the moment we will be happy with third place because there are great teams who would be very happy if they got there. "You always want more, but you see that the competition in England is difficult - Chelsea are now in the Champions League [semi-final] against Barcelona, but they are sixth at the moment, that means it is not easy. "We want to win our next game and that is the only way we can secure our [Champions League] qualification. "We have done remarkably well in the last two months and we want to take advantage of that run we have created and show that tomorrow." Arsenal have won nine of their last 11 Premier League games to force themselves back into the top four. Wenger feels ending the campaign with a similar run of form can only boost confidence for the challenges ahead in 2012/2013. "We feel that as a team we have improved during the season and it is important now to finish in a strong way. That gives us confidence to do well at the start of next season," he said. "We played the first seven games and lost four. It is difficult after to win the championship." Already without Jack Wilshere, Arsenal have seen their midfield options depleted further by the ankle injury to Mikel Arteta against Wigan. On-loan Yossi Benayoun will not be able to face his parent club tomorrow, but Abou Diaby and Francis Coquelin return from injury. Wenger said: "It is not ideal but we cannot complain, we have to overcome that. "You always expect in April that not everybody will be on board and our game is based on collective play. "That is why we have to focus on our team play and not think about who is here or not here."
Roberto Di Matteo today insisted there was no need to "have a word" with Didier Drogba about his antics in Chelsea's Champions League win over Barcelona. Caretaker Blues boss Di Matteo revealed Drogba picked up a genuine injury in Wednesday night's semi-final first leg that has left him in a race against time to be fit for Tuesday's return match. Drogba was hailed and castigated in almost equal measure after his Jekyll-and-Hyde performance in midweek that saw him score the winner but also roll around theatrically several times after being challenged. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed on Thursday he had "had a word" with Ashley Young about the winger's own tendency to go down easily, but suggested what went on at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday was much worse. Asked if he would have a similar conversation with Drogba, Di Matteo said: "No, because I don't see any reason why I should have a conversation like that. "Our players, I think, are fair players. Everybody has his own style but I think we are a fair team." Drogba was accused of trying to run down the clock on Wednesday and former referee Graham Poll has warned the officials on Tuesday night may have that in mind. Di Matteo said: "He was marked most of time by two men and I think got a lot of physical battering as well on the night. "We have to be objective about our opinions as well." Confirming Drogba suffered a knee injury on Wednesday and would miss the trip to Arsenal - a match he probably would have been rested for anyway - Di Matteo admitted he did not know whether the 34-year-old would be back for the trip to the Nou Camp. "We have to assess him tomorrow and Sunday and how he recovers," he said. "He got pushed and kicked around quite a lot in the game on Wednesday."
Arsenal V Chelsea - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: PA
