Source: Daily_Mail
Arsene Wenger orders Arsenal stars to forget about the World Cup and focus on club football
Arsene Wenger has told his Arsenal stars to forget about the World Cup and concentrate on driving the Gunners to success both in the Barclays Premier League and Europe.[LNB]Arsenal can secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a draw against Standard Liege at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.[LNB] Don't bite the hand that feeds you: Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's international stars should put their club before their countries[LNB]However, the Gunners fell eight points behind leaders Chelsea following a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday, when they were without Holland striker Robin van Persie, who damaged ankle ligaments while away during the international break.[LNB]England forward Theo Walcott, however, made a welcome return to action from what has been an injury-plagued start to the campaign, and could feature again in Europe this week.[LNB]Wenger, though, maintains first and foremost it is the job of his players to deliver the goods for Arsenal, rather than worrying about what they may be able to go on and achieve in South Africa next summer.[LNB]'For me, the big season is with Arsenal, not at the World Cup,' Wenger declared when quizzed about the importance of the campaign for Walcott, given what is ahead at the end of it.[LNB]Back in action: Theo Walcott has made a welcome return for the Gunners this week[LNB]'We do not pay players to go to the World Cup - we pay the players to do well for Arsenal. The first pride of a man is to do well for the guy who pays you in life, notto go to the World Cup.'[LNB]Arsenal had looked so good before the international break, moving up above Manchester United and closing in on Chelsea following a 13-match unbeaten run across all competitions.[LNB]Yet the defeat at the Stadium of Light, where the Gunners were well short of their usual free-flowing selves, has once again been highlighted as just why Wenger's squad are not quite yet the finished article.[LNB]However, the Gunners boss maintains the outlook remains positive ahead of Sunday's visit of Chelsea, on whom Arsenal have a match in hand.[LNB]'You have to take a little bit of distance with the immediate mathematic impression,' said Wenger.[LNB]'We have played two less games than Chelsea at home, one more away and we have a game in hand, so I believe that if you put that into perspective it is not as bad as it first looks.'[LNB]Wenger, though, conceded his team must improve going forwards against the Belgians on Tuesday night, when a draw would qualify them for the knockout stagesand victory would clinch top spot in Group H with a match to spare - a scenariowhich perhaps seemed unlikely when Arsenal were 2-0 down inside five minutes ofthe opening game in Liege.[LNB]'We had some deficiencies which we paid for and we have to make sure that is not repeated,' said the Arsenal manager.[LNB]'We did not produce enough in the final third, which had been our strength until now.[LNB]'We did not have the right fluency in our game, nor enough penetrative runs toforce the issue in the final part of the pitch. That is why we were not dangerous, rather than down to any individual.[LNB]I do not deny at all the super-class of Van Persie, I just feel we still have enough in the locker to score goals even when Robin is not there.'[LNB]Wenger, who will have England Under-21 defender Kieran Gibbs available again after a foot injury, added: "We have a good opportunity tomorrow to finish first in the group and qualify, then after we can think about Chelsea.[LNB]'The perfect way is to respond after a disappointing result, that is where you judge a big team and that is what we want to do tomorrow.'[LNB] Gibbs returns to boost Arsenal's defence ahead of Standard Liege testCesc Fabregas: Barcelona rumours do not affect me - I may even stay at Arsenal foreverTraore tipping Arsenal for derby delight ahead of showdown with ChelseaARSENAL FC
