Wenger wants 'Invincibles' spirit

The Gunners have slumped to seventh in the table after finally ending a run of three straight league defeats with a frustrating goalless draw at Bolton on Wednesday night.

However, with only five points separating them from fourth, there is still all to play for over the remaining 15 matches.

The Gunners could on Saturday lunchtime leapfrog both Liverpool and Newcastle, who play on Monday and Sunday, with victory over struggling Blackburn Rovers at Emirates Stadium.

"Football is a happy moment where people come together to watch the team they love. We have to stop to make a drama of everything, but there are much more dreadful things in life than that."
Arsene Wenger Quotes of the week

However, after suffering eight defeats so far, Wenger accepts there can be little margin for error.

Criticism

"Ideally you want to be unbeaten. Is it possible? I think to prove that it is possible is just to win on Saturday," said the Arsenal manager, whose 'Invincibles' famously claimed the 2003/2004 championship without losing a league match.

"For the rest, I believe that we have played some great football this season and we have to continue to improve the way we play and focus on that.

"Football has to be a happy moment that you want to share with people who come to the game. We always try to behave like that."

Some disgruntled Gunners supporters are planning to put black bin liners over any empty seats at Emirates Stadium, highlighting their claims many fans are staying away.

Wenger has in recent weeks been the subject of increased vocal criticism from some sections of the stands.

Struggle

The Arsenal manager, though, insists all is not yet lost and the team have to take a distance as they focus on the job in hand on the pitch.

Rovers boss Steve Kean has also found himself under fire from his club's supporters this season as they struggle at the other end of the table.

And Wenger feels people everywhere need to keep the bigger picture in mind, as he said: "It is not easy anywhere nowadays, but with the media and the opinions of everybody, we live in a constant drama. But it is not like that.

"Football is a happy moment where people come together to watch the team they love.

"We have to stop to make a drama of everything, but there are much more dreadful things in life than that.

"We have to keep focused on the fact that we have a fantastic opportunity to play football and we want to focus on that with happy minds, not always to be in a drama."