Lifting Carling Cup would end doubts about Arsenal, says Wenger
By ANISaturday, February 26, 2011
LONDON - French football manager Arsene Wenger has acknowledged that winning Sunday’s Carling Cup would finally end doubts about whether Arsenal’s present squad is able to deliver silverware to the Emirates Stadium or not.
The Gunners have failed to lift a trophy since 2005, but Wenger still believes the club’s achievements in delivering consistent top-level European football cannot be undervalued.
“It is always very difficult to say whether it is harder to finish always in the top four, or to win the Carling Cup”, he said.
He said: “The most difficult is consistency at the top, and the proof of that is that only two clubs have been able to finish in the top four for each of the last 12 years, us and Manchester United.”
Wenger added: “We have a young squad and this will do much for their confidence. Winning the Carling Cup will be like beating Chelsea, like beating Barcelona - another step forward.”
Arsenal will not have the services of both captain Cesc Fabregas, who has a hamstring problem, and Theo Walcott, suffering an ankle sprain.
Wenger said: “Cesc is disappointed, but his disappointment is diminished by the fact that we have other main targets after this game, like the championship, the Champions League and the FA Cup”, The Independent reported.
He further added: “If he was playing, he could damage his participation in all the other targets after that. Of course, he accepts it with disappointment, but our job isn’t just about good things. It’s also about disappointments.” (ANI)
