Arsene Wenger says he has no regrets over the failure to sign Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, as he prepares to take Arsenal to Anfield for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off in a game of huge importance to his club’s Premier League title challenge.
The Arsenal manager oversaw two bids for Suarez last summer, the second of £40,000,001, which was an attempt to trigger what Arsenal were led to believe was a release clause in the striker’s contract. It succeeded only in creating anger at Liverpool, with club owner, John W Henry tweeting: “What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?”
Wenger subsequently admitted that the bid did look provocative and was “not the most subtle thing we have done”.
Suarez has reapplied himself at Anfield and he has been arguably the Premier League’s player of the season so far, with 23 goals in 19 appearances. Although Wenger highlighted Liverpool’s various offensive threats, it was clear that Suarez was the player that he wanted to stop.
“No, there are no regrets,” Wenger said. “You have sometimes regrets when a player played for you, and scores goals or does well somewhere else [but] he was never our player. It is just a situation that did not come off and that is it.”
Wenger, who insisted that it had not been his intention to replace Olivier Giroud with Suarez, was asked whether he might try again for the Uruguayan in the summer. “At the moment, no,” he replied.
Big goal threat
"For us, the important thing is to win the game. The fact about what happened in the summer [
with Suarez] is nothing to do with that. If you want to win the game, what is for sure is that he’s one of the players that you have to keep quiet.
“Liverpool have a strong offensive force with [Daniel] Sturridge, with Suarez, with [Philippe] Coutinho, with [Raheem] Sterling behind. All these players can score goals and make a difference. What you want on our side is a strong defensive performance and to dominate, to leave them as few balls as possible.
“The philosophy on our side has to be the same: to master the ball and to dominate the game.”
Arsenal travel to Merseyside on top of the table, two points clear of Manchester City and Chelsea, after the latter’s win at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night. City had entered the game as the favourites but Chelsea’s 1-0 victory provided the latest twist in a tight championship race.
'Quality teams'
"I told you one month ago and you did not believe me . . . there is no invincible team," Wenger said. "It is because there are so many quality teams in the Premier League and it is just how close you are to your best every time which decides the game."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho continued in his attempt to cast his team as the title outsiders after the City game, saying that, in a three-horse race, his was the “little horse”. Arsenal and City, he said, had to be more heavily fancied.
“They [Chelsea] are in there,” said Wenger. “It is easy to move out if you don’t want . . . I just think they are in there, of course. We focus on our side and do not listen too much to what people say. What is important is that it is a period where you show up with good performances.”
Arsenal begin a tough sequence at Liverpool. Thereafter, they face Manchester United at home in the league on Wednesday; Liverpool at home in the FA Cup on Sunday week; Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League last-16 first leg on the Wednesday after that.
Wilshere set for return
Wenger hopes to be boosted by the return of Jack Wilshere at Anfield.
The midfielder has missed the last two matches with ankle trouble and he will undergo a late fitness test. However, he believes that he is ready. Wenger will decide whether to use him from the start or as a substitute.
“We might have Wilshere back,” said Wenger. “In the big games, it is always decided . . . by strong players who have a big statement.
"We have had some good wins at Anfield and I have a big respect for the fans there. They are a passionate crowd and they always behave in a passionate but very fair way."
Guardian Service
