Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will not change their transfer targets even if they miss out on Champions League football.
Wenger knows he needs to make sweeping changes to his squad if he wants to get the club back challenging for the Premier League title again.
But some players around the globe are only interested in signing for teams who can offer Champions League football.
Long term target Alexandre Lacazette has already said he would not be willing to quit Lyon without the prospect of playing in Europe’s premier club competition.
But Wenger insists he will go after the players he feels are the best around and within reach -whether they are playing in theChampions League or Europa League next season.
Wenger said: “I don’t think the Europa League will mean us targeting different players, we will deal with it if we have to but we are not in that position yet.
“We will focus on the same players.”
The Gunners take on Manchester United on Sunday knowing anything less than victory at the Emirates would finally end their top four hopes.
Last week Wenger claimed Arsenal needed to win all of their matches to have any chance of finishing in the top four, and they went on to lose 2-0 to Tottenham.
But with Manchester United and Manchester City both drawing last week, the damage was not as bad as it could have been so Wenger will still believe the Gunners have a sneak of a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
One thing for sure, if they lose this weekend then surely that is game over for the top four this season?
So what can we expect from Wenger today? Well there will surely be the obvious questions about his future, and possibly over the reports linking him with a summer move for Nice star Jean Michael Seri
There may also be questions regarding the attitude of Mesut Ozil – who after yet another limp display last week against Spurs was then allegedly involved in a bust-up with the Arsenal doctor.
We’ll find out soon enough – although Wenger is currently running his usual late for the 9am start.
As it stands Arsenal are six points behind fourth-placed City with a game in hand, while United are five ahead having also played a game more.
If they are serious about getting that fourth spot then this weekend’s match is crucial.
And Arsenal could be aided by Jose Mourinho playing a weakened team, with the United boss threatening to prioritise winning the Europa League as a means of getting into the Champions League next season.
This game is sandwiched right in the middle of United’s two-legged semi-final against Celta Vigo, and Mourinho wants to roll out all his best players to ensure they reach the final in Stockholm.
Still no sign of the Gunners boss yet – he loves nothing better than keeping the media waiting!
Here we go…..
On the reaction of his players….
We are disappointed by the result and our performances, the best way is to respond so we want to bounce back.
There is no better way then to have a big game again.
Granit Xhaka is ruled out though Shkodran Mustafi is back in full training.
Xhaka has a swollen ankle.
Lucxas Perez is back in training but he got a little problem and will now miss the next two days.
Sunday’s game is as big as it gets. The problem before was that we knew in winning our games we would achieve top four, the problem now is that it is no longer in our hands.
On a United weakened team…
We focus on our performance,m I don’t know what United will do. They have a massive squad with quality players and only a top class performance would get us the win we want.
The only advantage we can have is to focus on ourselves. Any United team we play will be a strong team.
Managers fight, what I want is my players to turn up with a good focus on Sunday.
I would take the Europa League seriously next season, the only thing I have done over the years is to use the League Cup to use some younger players.
On a United weakened team…
We focus on our performance,m I don’t know what United will do. They have a massive squad with quality players and only a top class performance would get us the win we want.
The only advantage we can have is to focus on ourselves. Any United team we play will be a strong team.
If you look at the teams who won the Europa League recently, they have always been teams kicked out of the Champions League in the group stages. This year it can be Manchester United.
I’m still not ready to tell you about my future.
I deal with losing very badly, unfortunately in a manager’s career you have to go through it.
This week we have spoken again about the mental problem, but people underestimate the stress players are under to perform.
People need to be a bit more balance, in life there are lots of ups and downs. The only difference is in football maybe the ups and the downs are bigger.
I love the positive side, I love to win, to prepare for something big and to hope to do well.
I am sorry Mesut kicked the door. I don’t think his frustration was towards the drug testers – that’s the only explanation I have.
I did speak to him about it, because I only heard about it today. It is always good to hear the player’s side of things.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain’s performances have been amazing and positive, he looks like he has made a move forward and am pleased with him.
I believe he is happy in the position where he plays, I am convinced he has all the qualities needed to play there.
He has to commit his future to a club and I hope he will do so over the summer.
I felt that away from home we fade in big games, it is very difficult to explain because last season it was a reverse, we made many points against big teams.
There was a turning point against City and United where we lost two games on the spin, that took a lot of confidence from us.
It’s always difficult to isolate one factor, defensively away from home we have conceded too many goals.
I don’t think the Europa League will mean us targeting different players, we will do with it if we have to. We will focus on the same players.
We help on the mental front players who want help, it is difficult for the players, when they do not meet their needs they are frustrated, they suffer from self-esteem issues in some situations because the expectation on them is very high.
It is not easy to deal with that when you are at a very young age.
Not all the players, even if they feel the need, want to be helped by people at the club. Sometimes they don’t want to show what could be interpreted as a weakness – you can understand why some players would want to do that outside of the club.
Every big game boosts your confidence, Manchester United is a massive club, what is important to us is we achieve our target – there is no more choice, we have to beat them.
Being fifth versus sixth, it shows everybody has moved up, the number of clubs fighting at the top is bigger and the difference between the teams is smaller.
Normally a hectic schedule is what you want, overall I must say if you have no big injuries we are all equipped to deal with a lot of fixtures.
Xhaka has a little chance with his ankle to be fit for Sunday.
When you are such a long time at a club like I am and Ferguson was, it’s a bit like when you have children – you want them to be happy.
Even though you are not there anymore, you want them to be happy.
I am sure Manchester United will come back and fight for the Premier League, and I am sure we have the qualities and the resources in the club to fight again for the Premier League.
Both teams are in a position where they have to win this game if they want to finish in the top four.
I try to respect everybody. I think it is important I focus on my own team and their performance.
That’s your lot from Arsene Wenger today – not giving much away about anything in truth, and even less about his future!
Thanks for joining us.
Good morning, and welcome to live coverage of Arsene Wenger’s press conference ahead of the make-or-break clash with Manchester United.