Team news

Wenger wants players to be unbeatable Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal side to recapture the Invincibles spirit and drag themselves back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

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 leapfrog both Liverpool and Newcastle, who play later in the weekend, with victory over struggling Blackburn at Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

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

"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 side famously claimed the 2003/2004 championship without losing a league match.

"For the rest, I believe 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 because of poor performances which have seen Arsenal slump to seventh in the table.

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

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 the club's supporters this season as they struggle at the other end of the table.

Wenger feels people everywhere need to keep the bigger picture in mind.

"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," the Arsenal boss added.

"We have to stop to make a drama of everything but there are much more dreadful things in life than that." Wenger continued: "I am here to make all of the fans happy and when I do not manage to do it I am, of course, not happy.

"What is most important is that we have our fans happy at the end of the season.

"I know that it is always a depressed job to judge, the immediate situation, but we have a longer target - to go until May with a determined attitude with belief. That is what we want to achieve.

"Overall I feel this team is strong mentally with a good spirit and attitude.

"We are ready for a fight and that is the most important thing." Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, will be assessed over a knee problem.

Blackburn new boy Bradley Orr has no doubt the squad is up to the task of avoiding relegation.

The full-back joined Kean's side on transfer deadline day after a frustrating lack of opportunities with QPR this season and could make his debut at Arsenal.

Orr watched his new team lose 2-0 to Newcastle at Ewood Park on Wednesday, a result that left them two points from safety, but the defender saw more than enough to be encouraged about their chances of survival.

He said: "It's really exciting. It's a very good opportunity for me to come to such a great club like Blackburn.

"After watching the lads perform it's even more exciting because I thought they played really well and were really unfortunate not to get a win, never mind a result. It's a great new chapter for me and something I want to grab with both hands.

"When I look around the dressing room I see some excellent talent, experience blended with youth, and I'm very optimistic about the remainder of the season. Hopefully I can add to that." Orr was one of three signings made by Kean last month, with Marcus Olsson, twin brother of Rover Martin, joining from Halmstads BK in Sweden and Anthony Modeste making the move from Bordeaux on loan until the end of the season.

Modeste made his full debut against Newcastle and is likely to keep his place with top scorer Ayegbeni Yakubu serving the last of a three-game ban and David Goodwillie still struggling with flu.

Arsenal vs Blackburn

Last modified 15:06 04/02/12