Wenger felt "physically sick" after Hull loss
Monday, 29 Sep 2008 22:02
Arsene Wenger wants a positive response from his players
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt "physically sick" during his side's humiliating 2-1 defeat against Hull City on Saturday.
The Gunners boss has promised make a number of changes to the Arsenal team that faces FC Porto in the Champions League tomorrow after he claimed his side weren't mentally right in the defeat against Hull.
"There will be changes, certainly. I will see how many, but there will be changes," said Wenger. "There were enough ingredients (in the Hull game) to make me physically sick.
"What we delivered was not good enough and we know that. I believe that is more down to the mental side than anything technical."
Wenger has urged his side to show some fighting spirit and get their Champions League campaign going after the draw in Dynamo Kiev a fortnight ago. The Frenchman felt that victory in the home games would be vital if Arsenal are to reach the knockout stages.
"What is important now is to recover and prepare for the next game. It is not important now how many games we lose in the season, it's how we respond on Tuesday. That makes the match with Porto more important. We know in the Champions League you qualify with 10 points, so if we win our home games we are through."
It will be interesting to see which players Wenger decides to give the chop as the Gunners don't have one of the biggest squads in the Premier League. Key players like William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas all played in the Hull game.
Summer signing Samir Nasri returns to the squad for the game against Porto after recovering from a knee injury. But midfielder Alex Song has been ruled out with a hip injury.