Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that some of his top players will be missing for this evening’s Capital One Cup clash with Chelsea, but insists his aim is still to play for a win.
The Arsenal boss has never beaten a Jose Mourinho led team, but is adamant that the Gunners goal is to beat Chelsea this evening no matter what starting line-up he sends out on the pitch.
Meanwhile Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had hinted at playing the Chelsea U-21 team due to the fact the match comes just 24 hours after an important match with Premiership title challengers Manchester City.
“The team will be a mixture, with some players who are at the moment not getting the games they need and deserve, and also one or two young players,” Wenger said.
“I have to get that mixture right and I will leave myself until tomorrow to decide how I do that.”
One of Wenger’s changes is likely to be the introduction of Danish international Nicklas Bendtner into the team for his first start for Arsenal since March of 2011 after loan spells with Sunderland and Juventus which led to speculation that he was to leave Arsenal last summer.
“Nicklas has been away for a lot of time and he was half – when I say half I mean 80 per cent – out of the club,” Wenger said.
“In the end, he decided to stay and I stopped him from going.
“I must say, he responded in a positive way and that is what we want from him now.
“I believe he is physically ready, a very good player and if his concentration is 100 per cent to commit himself to the cause he will be a great asset for us. But that is what you want from him in this game.”
Wenger wants to prove to the world that Arsenal are true Premiership title contenders after some pundits have said that the Gunners are only top of the table thanks to a favourable fixture list at the start of the season.
“We haven’t won the title for a few years and people question that now,” Wenger said.
“At the end of the day, the Premier League will reflect the quality of the performances of the team throughout the season and how well you do in the big games.
“This is a good opportunity for us to show we are ready.
“I’m not sure it will affect the Premier League at all, but you know people will look at you, how you behave and whether you can win the big games like that.
“What is for sure is you that you want to win these sort of games.
“That has a certain psychological influence on the team.
“What we want to do is to show that we want to be considered as a very strong team and that comes only with the way we play and with the results, so let’s just focus on that.
“We will absolutely go for this game.”
