Football: Wenger faces crucial Udinese test

'Let’s try to be at our best as quickly as we can' says Arsene Wenger

LONDON:

Arsene Wenger admits it will be essential for Arsenal to avoid an early Champions League exit against Udinese as the Gunners boss tries to stop his club spiralling out of control.

Wenger has endured a miserable close season which consisted of desperate attempts to persuade Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to stay and a total failure to sign the top-class players required to revive a squad that has now gone six years without winning a trophy. In the circumstances, missing out on a place in the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition could be disastrous for Wenger. “Let’s try to be at our best as quickly as we can because it is important for us to go through in the Champions League,” said the manager.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2011.