Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: Time is now for Gunners
The Gunners - who have a match in hand on their title rivals - will be looking to close an eight-point gap on the Blues after slipping further off the pace in the wake of last weekend's lacklustre defeat at Sunderland.[LNB]Confidence within Wenger's squad, however, remains high after they returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Standard Liege in midweek to book a safe passage through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.[LNB]"Everyone will look at the game to rate our potential, and I have no worries about that," said the Arsenal boss.[LNB]"We are ready for the game, are well focused, prepared and the confidence is good.[LNB]"We just want to focus on the game like we want to play it."[LNB]Wenger declared: "It is a big test, yes - but that is what you want, to play these teams.[LNB]"I think there is a period for any team to come out and show its strengths. For my team, this moment has come.[LNB]"We are not any more a team that has to be considered to be young.[LNB]"I think we have the strengths and we can show that on Sunday that we are strong enough to compete."[LNB]Arsenal, though, must take on the Premier League leaders at the Emirates Stadium still missing striker Robin van Persie and full-back Kieran Gibbs, while centre-back William Gallas is rated as only 50/50 to face his former club.[LNB]England Under-21 defender Gibbs is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering his latest setback during the closing stages of the win over Liege on Tuesday night.[LNB]Gibbs had been scheduled to fill in for Gael Clichy, out with a back problem, so Armand Traore, who had a spell on loan at Portsmouth last season, will deputise.[LNB]Wenger said: "Kieran had surgery this morning and the surgeon gave us a good report that he did not need any metal in his foot.[LNB]"The first metatarsal is broken, which is very rare. He will be out for at least three months."[LNB]Even with Arsenal's defensive reshuffle, Wenger knows full well whoever is in the backline on Sunday will face a stern examination from Didier Drogba and former Gunner Nicolas Anelka.[LNB]"You know they are a good side and to beat them, you have to deliver a good performance," said the Arsenal boss.[LNB]"It is more important we focus on what we do than any strength or weakness of Chelsea.[LNB]"They are a strong side and have a good manager in Carlo Ancelotti, but I still believe that despite all that, we can still beat them.[LNB]"Let us expect them to be strong on the day, and then let us be stronger."[LNB]With Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner still a couple of weeks away from recovery after groin surgery, Wenger is short of options for the central role in Arsenal's fluid three-man attack.[LNB]Both Croatia's Eduardo and Mexican teenager Carlos Vela have been deployed there without great impact in recent matches, so England forward Theo Walcott could well be given an opportunity.[LNB]Wenger revealed there was "a chance", albeit perhaps slim, the former Southampton trainee will start at the head of the frontline on Sunday.[LNB]However, it is a role which the Arsenal manager feels Walcott - with high hopes of making Fabio Capello's squad for South Africa - will grow into naturally.[LNB]"The only thing I would say with Theo is that every time I have rushed him back he has got injured again. This time I have decided to take the time to get him completely 100% fit to come back," said Wenger, clearly irked by the 20-year-old's lack of availability this season after a busy summer with England Under-21s and an early campaign blighted by fitness problems.[LNB]"Theo can play central, I am very conscious of that because of the quality of his runs and the timing of his runs, the other part he can work on."[LNB]Wenger maintained: "I believe he has all the assets to be a fantastic central player.[LNB]"What he needs to work on to play in this kind of position is the back to goal.[LNB]"At the moment his strengths are central to the counter-attacking role rather than the distribution role. That is what he has to add to his game."[LNB]Arsenal, meanwhile, are dedicating the Chelsea match to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.[LNB]Players and some staff will donate a day's wages as the club aim to hit their £500,000 target for the season.[LNB]Wenger said: "With football, we are in our own passion. Sometimes you are tempted to be selfish and forget a bit about the rest of the world.[LNB]"Charity brings us down to earth and back to real life."[LNB][LNB] Chelsea 6/4, Arsenal 7/4, Draw 12/5
