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Wenger - Big games are for big players

Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger

Arsene Wenger says the biggest games are the perfect stage for key players to shine - and he insists he has many of them at his disposal.

The Gunners head to White Hart Lane on Sunday for the north London derby lying four points behind Tottenham in the Premier League table.

"Our sport, as much as we love it as a team sport, becomes an individual sport because when Barca play Real Madrid it is Ronaldo v Messi"

The pre-game focus has been on the threat posed by the in-form Gareth Bale, but Wenger insists his team can cause problems from several different positions.

“Our sport, as much as we love it as a team sport, becomes an individual sport because when Barca play Real Madrid it is Ronaldo v Messi,” he said. “It always finishes like that.

“All the rest are good players, great players, but if these two individuals are not on a good day the result of the game is influenced by it and that’s why everybody fights for the big players.

“At the moment I feel we can score from many positions and I prefer that, personally. We have many players who can score. Walcott can score, Giroud can score, Cazorla can score, I think Wilshere will score as well, Podolski can score. We have many players.”

Wenger refused to elaborate on whether he has any plans to deal with Bale, but admits he has been impressed by his recent form.

“At the moment he has a good conversion rate between the chances he creates and the goals he scores,” he said.

“To maintain that percentage - at the moment I think it’s certainly the best in Europe - is very, very difficult. But of course he has good pace, a good shot and his pace is an advantage.”

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