Wenger guards against complacency
Arsene Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on his side to keep themselves grounded when they head to relegation-battlers Hull on Saturday looking to maintain their title challenge.
Since successive defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea, the Gunners have put together a run of four successive league victories to haul themselves right back into the title race, while Arsenal also cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 5-0 thrashing of Porto on Tuesday night.
"We have as well to be realistic, keep our feet on the ground," he said. "In the Premier League every game is as dangerous - we have to make sure we prepare well for Hull."
Wenger continued: "We are where we are because we have shown a strong mental attitude and a good solidarity within our squad.
"Let's take care of that because that is very fragile and goes very quickly. For me that is the most important thing, that we keep our humility, work hard for each other and then we have a chance."
There has, meanwhile, certainly been little love lost between Arsenal and Hull, who are battling for points at the opposite end of the Barclays Premier League table.
Both clubs were fined by the Football Association for failing to control their players during the match at the Emirates Stadium just before Christmas, when there was a melee after Gunners midfielder Samir Nasri appeared to tread on Richard Garcia's foot.
Last season, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas - who is unlikely to play at the KC Stadium this weekend because of a hamstring problem - was eventually cleared following an independent inquiry into allegations he spat at Hull assistant Brian Horton in the tunnel following their FA Cup quarter-final tie.
Wenger, however, maintains he is not one to hold a grudge, and has no issue with Tigers boss Phil Brown - who had hit out at the Frenchman for refusing to shake his hand after that game.
"We don't make a special fuss of anything, we just try to play football," said Wenger. "I respect everybody in life, and I don't make any special issue of that. We have to focus on what is most important, which is that the people who pay to come to watch a football game get something for their money. That is what we always try to do."
Press Association
