Wenger calls for focus

Arsene Wenger: Wants full concentration on Monday

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has called for his players to be focused ahead of their crucial clash with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

The Gunners are looking to secure a UEFA Champions League place, and they know only a top-three finish would secure that.

With a slender one-point lead over Tottenham and two over Newcastle, there is little margin for further error by a team which has drawn the last three games.

Throw in the fact Sunday will be Roy Hodgson's final game in charge at The Hawthorns before he takes over as England boss, and everything is set for a fascinating encounter.

Wenger, though, wants to keep things simple as he targets victory.

Opportunity

"We have a massive game in front of us, but I feel we are focused, switched on. I am confident we will do well," said the Frenchman.

"For us it is just to find the right mixture - to be focused, combative and relaxed, and especially be faithful to play our football like we want to.

"At the end of the day it will be down to playing well, no matter what is at stake."

Wenger continued: "We have known final days like this before, games where we have played for championships, or qualifying for the Champions League.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for us, that of course we want to take.

Farewell

"We are used to coping with that. At the end of the day, it's playing football.

"If we have more of the ball than West Brom, like we want to have, we will have more chances to win the game.

"That is what we will focus on. Just be faithful to the way we want to play football."

Wenger does not feel Hodgson's farewell should play any part in his side's approach.

"I expect our opponents to play at their best and we will adjust our performance to that and prepare ourselves to face an opponent that are focused and motivated," he said.

"We are never disappointed when we imagine that because we got that against Stoke, we got that against Norwich. So we prepare, consequently, to face a normal game."