Arsene Wenger on Friday urged Arsenal to view attack as the best form of defence in their FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea on Saturday.
The Gunners manager has seen his defensive resources decimated ahead of the trip to Wembley, with Manuel Almunia (ankle), Wiliam Gallas (knee), Johan Djourou (knee) and Gael Clichy (back) all ruled out through injury.
Wenger had been hoping Bacary Sagna would have recovered from a virus, but the French full-back was sent home from the club’s London Colney training ground after being examined by medical staff.
To compound Wenger’s woes, Kieran Gibbs, who has deputised for Clichy at left-back in Arsenal’s last two outings, is also considered a major doubt with a groin strain and will face a fitness test on Saturday morning.
A selection crisis of that magnitude would leave most managers aiming for little more than damage limitation against a side of Chelsea’s calibre, but Wenger is refusing to dilute his expectations ahead of his first FA Cup semi-final since 2005.
Instead, he wants his myriad of attacking talent – which has notched seven goals in the last two matches – to make up for any defensive weaknesses and ensure a return trip to England’s national stadium for the final on 30 May.
“We are short in numbers but not short in quality,” Wenger said. “I focus on our strengths and how we play the game, and we know we are approaching this game on full cylinders. We know we can score so let’s go for it.
“Two or three months ago, people said we couldn’t score goals, but now we are scoring a lot so it’s linked with confidence. Everyone knows how we play – we don’t sit back and wait for Chelsea to come at us. We want to dictate the play.”
Arsenal’s season appeared to be in tatters at the turn of the year but they have since embarked on a rousing run, progressing to the Champions League semi-finals, where they face Manchester United, and tightening their grip on fourth place in the English Premier League.
When coupled with their progress in the FA Cup, this season represents the club’s best chance of ending their four-year trophy drought.
Wenger’s faith in his long-term project at the Emirates stadium has never wavered, although even he has been surprised at the speed with which his latest generation of talents has matured.
“This is a very young team,” he added. “Normally players get there at an older age but we already have the quality and mental strength which is important at this level. I feel the desire is there, the talent is there, the hunger is 100 per cent to win.
“I never thought, in 2005, that it would be this long until we won another trophy. You always try and stay positive.
“People say that we have disappeared since 2005 but we haven’t. We were in the Champions League final in 2006, we were in the title race last year, so we never went away. We have had good teams.”
Wenger’s biggest concern ahead of his visit to the revamped Wembley as a manager concerns the pitch.
The Frenchman has received reports that the turf at the north-west London stadium could cut up on Saturday, a far cry from its bowling-green reputation of past years.
“I loved the old Wembley and I am not too impressed by the new one,” he added. “When I was young, we played on bad grounds and we wanted to play on marvellous grass at Wembley.
“When I heard they had bad grass at Wembley, it was a little bit disappointing. I expected a good pitch but the noises I get are not convincing.”
