Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal team not to be distracted by speculation that Barcelona will launch a summer raid for captain Cesc Fabregas.

The 21-year-old is back in the squad for the first time in almost four months ahead of tomorrow's visit of Manchester City.

But the build-up to his return has been overshadowed by Barca president Joan Laporta publicly declaring he “would badly like to see Cesc in Barcelona's shirt”.

Although stopping short of stating Fabregas would be at the club next season, Wenger insisted he is not surprised by the Catalan side's approach.

“What is important is how well we deal with that kind of thing inside the club,” said the Frenchman, who sold Alexander Hleb to Barca last summer.

“That is more important than what people say. What is important is, what is your target, how much energy do you want to put into achieving it and do not worry too much about what people say.

“Any distraction would be a weakness from our side and a wrong excuse. We cannot influence what people say, or write or think. We can influence how much success we can achieve together.

“Why should I be disappointed with [Laporta's comments]? If I was disappointed, that would mean I should expect another behaviour but I do not. What is important for us is not who stays or who goes, what is important is how much we focus on the next game.”

City beat the Gunners 3-0 back in November but Wenger's side have not lost any of their subsequent 16 League games despite Fabregas's absence.

All eyes will be on how quickly he can recover his best form following knee ligament damage but Wenger said: “We are on a fantastic run, the longest made in the Premier League this season.

However, I expect a performance from the whole team and not of just one given player.

“We have eight games in 24 days and that means our success will be determined by the squad and not by any given player. March, April and May defines your season and we have put ourselves in a very strong position.”

Manuel Almunia agrees with Wenger and today insisted anything is possible in the League run-in.

The Gunners keeper said: “People should be optimistic about our form. We realise how strong we can be and the players are mentally better, more aggressive and everything is improving now as players coming back.”

Fabregas's return tomorrow will help Arsenal's late push and he is joined in the squad by Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott, who have recovered from hamstring and knee complaints respectively. But Abou Diaby (thigh), Eduardo and Robin van Persie (both groin) miss out.