Wigan v Arsenal: 'It is not about next season, it is about this season,' Arsene Wenger calls on strong finish to Arsenal's faltering campaign

Gunner face Wigan in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday

Jim van Wijk
Thursday 10 April 2014 06:53 EDT
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Arsene Wenger takes training with Arsenal
Arsene Wenger takes training with Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had called for focus on a strong finish to the current campaign ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Wigan rather than worry about what the future may hold.

Midfielder Santi Cazorla spoke of his desire to win trophies with the Gunners in an interview with Abu Dhabi based website www.Sport360.com - and indicated he might consider leaving at the end of his recently-extended contract should he not be able to fulfil those ambitions at the Emirates Stadium in a side which "haven't got a winning mentality".

Wenger admits Arsenal must continue to strive for those goals as his team looks to produce a response to a faltering Premier League campaign, which has seen them facing a stern challenge from Everton to finish in the top four again following last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

"When results are not (going) as well, you can always think you can improve," said Wenger ahead of Saturday's Wembley clash.

"There is no perfect team and we will always try to improve our squad and our team.

"This season we lost key players at big important moments of the season, but we have to just to focus on finishing as well as we can.

"We are in a position where we can still do very well until the end of the season, that is what we want.

"It is not about next season, it is about this season."

Wenger insisted it was not all doom and gloom around the club following what had been such a promising campaign.

"Let's see first how we finish, but we have the basics," said the Arsenal boss, who has yet to sign the offer of a new contract extension.

"What is important for us is we have our players back and available.

"Our main task will be to keep the team together and think 'where did we go wrong?' because there's a lot of positives in our season as well.

"We have been the league leader 17 times and we dropped off when we lost our players at the important moment of the season, that is what we don't want to repeat."

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