Wenger hoping for goals and defensive stability

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
18 Aug	7:45 PM	CL	Celtic (A)	2	0	Win

Manager Arsène Wenger is hoping that his team find the right balance between attack and defence in tonight's match against Scottish giants Celtic at Celtic Park. The Frenchman will be instructing his team to try and score a vital away goal tonight, but is also aware that defensive stability is equally as important.

Acknowledging that having conceded 37 goals in last season's league campaign his side were nowhere near the standards they had set themselves, Wenger admitted that the emphasis for the players this season would be to have a solid defence on which to build their attacking play.

Wenger said: "I wouldn't like to come out too much on the tactical aspect of the game but we know that last year we conceded 37 goals and you cannot win the championship in England conceding 37 goals no matter how good you are going forward. That is something we have to address and correct compared to last year."

There is a doubt over captain Francesc Fabregas' fitness, but should he play, Wenger is confident that his improved finishing from range will be a key asset in securing that away goal. And the young Catalan has indeed been amongst the goals this season, having three to his tally already, including two against Everton over the weekend.

Fabregas only managed the same number in the club's entire league campaign last season, and Wenger said: "I do not want to put too much pressure on Cesc but he can score goals.

"He has improved his finishing, his power in finishing as well and he was always in interesting situations offensively but he could not always finish but he is now at an age where he can.

"He scored goals as a young boy so I can't see why it won't come back. It usually comes back at around 22, 23 years of age.

"He has more [license to get forward] but it depends as well on the structure of our team.

"Sometimes when Abou Diaby plays Cesc is more defensive because Diaby is more an offensive support. So it depends, we adapt always and we try to find the right balance to the team."

One player who might improve on the team's balance and get amongst the score sheet is forward Andrey Arshavin. The magician has three goals to his name this season but all of them have come from pre-season friendlies, and he'll be looking to open his account this evening.

Arshavin was ineligible to play for Arsenal in Europe last season but is ready to wreck havoc on the Scottish defence in what will be his European debut for the Gunners.

Wenger added: "Andrey can make the difference. He is a very efficient player who can turn up at any moment and make a difference but again we do not focus on any individual.

"Our strength is our team play because this team has been educated 80-90 per cent together for four or five years and one target is to develop the team play and not focus too much on individuals."

Score predictions for tonight?

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