Tonight:
5°c
Wide boy stuns Wenger
Michael Hart, Evening Standard11 Feb 2008
Arsene Wenger today admitted being surprised at David Bentley's emergence as an international class winger because he had previously earmarked him as a future centre forward.
The Blackburn Rovers player, released by Arsenal in 2005, was in Fabio Capello's England starting line-up against Switzerland last week on the right-hand side and faces his old club at Emirates Stadium tonight.
Wenger views 23-year-old Bentley as a major threat to Arsenal's bid to capitalise on points dropped by title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, but also insists offloading him was the right decision.
"I never had any doubt he had the talent to become a good player," said the Frenchman.
"But I always believed he would eventually develop as a central striker rather than a wide player.
"Arsenal contributed to his progress as a youngster and I'm very happy for him. Would he be where he is at the moment without Arsenal? Who knows. But at the time he left he had big players in front of him and I couldn't see him getting too many chances."
A fourth consecutive Premier League win will give Arsenal a five-point lead at the top of the table - the same as the advantage they enjoyed over United at the same stage when they last won the title in 2003-04.
"We are where we want to be after 25 games," said the Arsenal manager. "We have to focus on the challenges ahead in the next few weeks and I'm confident this team has the mental strength and desire."
Rovers, unbeaten in their last seven matches and bidding for a UEFA Cup place, have conceded 13 goals in four consecutive Premier League defeats at Arsenal. Last season they lost 6-2.
"We have caused them some problems over the years but we'll have to go there really determined and work exceptionally hard because they are an outstanding team," said Rovers manager Mark Hughes.
"They can get frustrated if you work hard and deny them their passing movements. But when they get a tempo in their play and rhythm in their passing it becomes difficult to get a foothold in the game."
What gives Hughes some reason for optimism is the performance of his team in knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup in the fifth round last season. Having drawn 0-0 in London they then won the replay 1-0 at Ewood Park. Rovers so frustrated Arsenal at Emirates Stadium that at the end of the match Cesc Fabregas was involved in a heated exchange with Hughes and questioned the tactics employed by his team. He later apologised for his behaviour.
"The player realised that was not the way he wanted to go," said Wenger. "I cannot remember one incident involving him since then.
"He's committed and you always want your players to have a winning attitude. To be fair, I believe that they are all more mature now."
Wenger has a lengthy injury list to contend with and his selection tonight will reflect the fact that Arsenal face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
"We are very short and, at the back, we're down to the bare bones," said the Arsenal manager.
