Arsène Wenger full of belief as strikers find their touch

Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal can attack the challenges ahead now his strikers have rediscovered a knack for scoring. In the past two weeks Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck have re-established an eye for goal, and the Arsenal manager is hoping that will make a difference during a pivotal week, with three competitions on the line.

“It is a weight on the shoulders when the players don’t score,” he said. “Giroud has cycles, so it was a weight off his shoulders. Walcott too, and it’s the same for Alexis as well, who scored against Tottenham. He suffers maybe more than everybody when he doesn’t score.”

After Watford in the FA Cup tomorrow, Arsenal play at Barcelona on Wednesday and then at Everton in the league on Saturday. Wenger is an admirer of the Watford front two of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney. “They have a very good understanding between the strikers and the quality between our two centre-backs will be vital,” he says.

After Watford in the FA Cup, Arsenal travel to Barcelona for an assignment that looks like the longest of shots on Wednesday night, then back to Premier League action at Goodison Park with an early kick off on Saturday.

Is the Everton game the most vital? “I haven’t decided yet,” Wenger said. “Let’s see how Sunday goes. I haven’t given up for Barcelona yet.”

The Premier League remains a major focus. “The players are not in the comfort zone and want to do well and they’ve not given up,” Wenger said.

“At the moment it can look pretentious to say we are still in the fight but mentally we are. Now we need to keep focus and go as high as we can. We are not in the mode to finish just in the top four. That may be the case, but if we don’t play well we won’t even be in the top four.” Guardian Service