Wenger - Loftus Road is like Highbury

Arsene Wenger says Queens Park Rangers will provide Arsenal with a stern test on Wednesday night.

Chris Ramsey’s side are 17th in the Premier League but have impressed at home this season, picking up 19 of their 22 points at Loftus Road.

Wenger says the stadium bears resemblance to Highbury and is expecting an intense atmosphere.

“There is a difference between QPR’s home results and their away results,” the manager said. “It’s a bit like a Highbury atmosphere with a very tight ground, fans close, a committed team, but it’s an opportunity for us to continue our good away record in the Premier League and we want to take it.

“QPR are a team that fights not to go down. They have 22 points and there are four teams who are down there, with Leicester [on 18 points], so there are four teams at the moment around there. One of them will get out, maybe two, so you expect the commitment and the fight that you get from teams who fight not to go down.”

Ramsey is the only black manager in the Premier League and Wenger says all coaches must be given a fair opportunity to manage at the top level, regardless of their ethnicity.

“I think football and society in general just needs to give a chance to everybody, no matter where he comes from or how he looks,” he said. “I’m for a society [where things are decided] on merit. Do black people get enough opportunities? Honestly, I don’t know. I hope yes.”