Arsene Wenger: Size Is Not Important For Arsenal
Gunners do not need bigger players, claims manager…
Dec 8, 2009 4:53:17 PM
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EPL: Arsene Wenger, Arsenal - West Ham United (PA)
Arsenal boss
Arsene Wenger has claimed that his squad's lack of height is not something that he deliberately planned.
The Frenchman also feels that the issue of a lack of physical presence in his side has been overplayed.
"It was not a conscious decision [to have a shorter team]," said Wenger, according to the Gunners' official website.
"We spoke about that because at one stage we had Emmanuel Petit, (Patrick) Vieira, Steve Bould, Martin Keown, Tony Adams – they were all tall, and (Nicolas) Anelka for example. But it was not a conscious choice.
"At the beginning of the season we started with Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Alex Song and Abou Diaby. We were a tall team because we had the back four plus these four players and they were really tall. I think it's down to the injuries we have had. We lost Diaby, Bendtner and Van Persie together. They are three players who have an impact physically.
"When you don't win people will find you a reason anyway. If you lose and you're tall they say you're too tall you know.
"I don't think [a lack of height] stopped anybody from winning trophies but sometimes in England it can have an impact on set pieces away from home. But I looked on set pieces and we didn't concede more than anybody else."
And Wenger feels his side's lack of goalscoring success from set-pieces in recent games has been down to the absence of one key player.
"We don't score many set-pieces since Van Persie has been out because his delivery was exceptional and we were quite dangerous on set pieces [earlier in the season]," he added.
Meanwhile, the Gunners travel to Greece to face Olympiakos on Wednesday night with a very youthful squad after injuries have cut deep at the Emirates.
The Frenchman trusts his youngsters to do a good job for him though.
"I believe we will be judged on the result," he asserted.
"Do we respect the competition or not will be decided by the quality of our game and the result. That is a gamble I take because I believe these players will do well.
"I believe that we want to get through the group unbeaten. We want to win always. When you represent Arsenal Football Club there is only one way to do that and that is to win every game you play.
"I'm convinced that we will be tested defensively because that's where we have to show that away from home with a young team we can be tested. But I am convinced as well that going forward we can create a lot.
"It is a risk [to play a young side] because you know if you don't win the game you will be criticised but I trust these players to do well. They have a lot of experience already of the big games and it will be another experience for them to show how good they are.
"It will give them a little belief and confidence and we will see some players we have never seen at that level and that is as well for me a good opportunity to judge how good these players are."