Arsene Wenger: Arsenal’s current crop of forwards are even better than my Invincibles

Danny Welbeck’s return from injury means Wenger now has to choose four players from eight to take his attacking roles.

He must decide who to select out of Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi and Welbeck.

And Wenger claims that such quality in abundance puts his class of 2017 above that of 2004, even if his league winners included Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

“Yes, certainly numbers wise and quality wise together,” said Wenger when asked if it was his best attacking. “We have never so many players who could perform and score goals, certainly.

GETTY

Arsene Wenger believes he has his best ever attacking force

“Bergkamp and Henry had the quality but we did not have a large number. We had Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires as well so it was not bad.

“I don’t know how to manage them. Sometimes you consider the problem you face, sometimes you consider the fitness of the players, the fact that for example they have played three days before – have they recovered or not?

“You just try to be honest in your decision and keep everybody on board.”

Welbeck’s two goals in the 5-0 FA Cup victory at Southampton on Saturday has helped give Wenger an extra selection headache.

GETTY

Arsene Wenger said his current attackers are even better than the Invincibles

But the manager believes that runs in the Premier League, domestic cups and Champions League gives him a fighting chance of keeping his entire squad happy.

“It helps playing so many games and it is important to stay in all the competitions,” he said.

“If you have one game every week and you have several strikers, I wish you good luck to keep them happy.

“It is impossible. People always want you to buy more. And after when you have them they say, ‘How do you keep them happy now?’

Inside Arsenal's changing room for away clash at Sutton United
Mon, January 30, 2017

Arsenal face a trip to non-league side Sutton United for their fifth round FA Cup clash and this is the changing room they'll use…

Play slideshow

Twitter

1 of 6

“They all get annoyed. They have a different way to show it. It is part of their job as well.

“But they are all committed to the club. For example, at the start of the season I bought Perez who for me is a very good player.

“But why? Because Welbeck was out until now basically, and I didn’t know how long it would take. No doctor can tell you it is March or January.

“He was ahead of schedule so after some time you have a congestion there as some players come back quicker than expected. But when you make the decision to buy, you don’t know.”

Arsenal take on Watford at the Emirates Stadium tonight and Wenger wants to avoid a repeat of their last home game when they scraped past Burnley thanks to a last-gasp Sanchez penalty.

“Every championship game can be decisive,” he said. “Liverpool plays against Chelsea at home – yes, it’s an important game, but only if we win. So let’s focus on our performance.

“We want to win the title, but look at the quality of competition. It is hard first to be in there and even harder to win the title. Chelsea and Liverpool have a little advantage as they don’t play in Europe at all but it is now going in the final part of the season where every game is vital.

“It’s always difficult games in the Premier League. We have experienced that recently against Burnley. But our attitude is spot on and we are ready to fight.”

Original Article