Arsene Wenger treasures team's solid bond

Feelgood factor: Arsenal players mob Andrey Arshavin after his winner against Barcelona last week
11 April 2012

Arsenal's relentless fixture schedule continues tonight as Stoke's visit to Emirates Stadium begins a run of five games in 14 days that Arsene Wenger has described as the most gruelling period he has known.

The Gunners will look to close to within one point of leaders Manchester United with victory against Tony Pulis's side as they aim to maintain a four-pronged assault on ending the club's trophy drought.

Although Wenger has often prioritised competitions in a manner not befitting a club without silverware since 2005, the manager has changed his attitude this season - tonight's match is Arsenal's 15th of 2011 and this week could climax with Carling Cup success to end that barren spell.

After Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round draw at Leyton Orient, Wenger admitted his players needed a break but the loss of defender Laurent Koscielny with a back problem and Robin van Persie to a hamstring injury limits further his ability to rotate.

"This is the busiest we've ever been," he said. "We've never been involved in four competitions at this stage of the season so that is credit to the squad. These players are absolutely fantastic and deserve to be rewarded.

"It is very difficult to juggle the squad but it is also enjoyable because it gives everybody competition [for places]. That is what you want as a manager as everybody has an opportunity to show how good they are. It keeps the whole squad focused. There is a real togetherness inside the squad, they fight for places but they also have a good understanding and a good bond. I believe competition helps this.

"We study everything we can but in the end your intuition goes with the analysis and you go with what you feel [on judging their fitness]. That doesn't mean you are right but you have to make the decision.

"When you know the players well, how they respond, how you have seen them respond before in similar situations, that all helps a lot with the decision too."

After Barcelona's death-by-a-thousand-passes style was overcome last Wednesday, Stoke will pose an altogether more functional threat.

Although they sit 10th in the Premier League and have lost their last four away games, Stoke have beaten Arsenal twice in their last five meetings, although both visits to north London have ended in defeat.

Winger Matthew Etherington is a doubt with a back injury but John Carew and Kenwyne Jones are set to create a physically imposing partnership in attack.

"They have very good players," said Wenger. "With Jones, [Jon] Walters, Carew, [Jermaine] Pennant and Etherington, they have a side who look capable of beating anybody in the Premier League.

"I don't think they have dropped. If you win one or two games in the Premier League you are looking upwards and if you lose one or two you are looking downwards but Stoke have become a very solid team in the League. Nobody enjoys playing against them.

"The best way to win the title is to win tonight. If we want to keep in touch with Manchester United, which we want more than anything, this game is vital. We have given so much in the League, we have gone through so many difficult periods, and have come back with such resilience. Being mature is giving a game the importance it deserves, and this is a very important one for us."

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