My remarkable team can handle pressure, says Arsene Wenger

Pressure: but Arsene Wenger can see an end to Arsenal's six-year trophy drought
11 April 2012

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal can cope with the burden of trying to end their trophy drought in Sunday's Carling Cup Final, writes James Olley.

In the intervening six years, Arsenal have always qualified for the Champions League and even finished runners-up in the 2006 final.

Those facts coupled with displays such as last week's 2-1 win over Barcelona have filled Wenger with confidence. The manager said: "Trophies are the concrete thing you want to show everybody but Arsenal have been remarkably consistent at the top level.

"In the last five years, the club have been tremendous. We have collected experience and have remained at the top level and we want to transform that into trophies because that's what people want as well.

"But history will tell you that the last five years at Arsenal, when people analyse it again, with what we have done at the club with the youth in our side, we have been remarkable.

"There is no need to question our ability to cope with the big games - we have shown that recently."

Arsenal have beaten Birmingham twice in the League this season, adding to the expectation on Wenger's side.

But the favourites tag does not trouble the Frenchman. He said: "Birmingham can lose a final and so for everybody it is the same pressure on both sides.

"Maybe we are more favourites but we can cope with that because in 90 per cent of the games, we have that kind of pressure. We are used to dealing with it.

"We know it's not being favourites that makes you win or lose, it's performing well on the day. A final always has that kind of problem - one team are favourites the other is not. But that's not the reality, it is what you do on the day of the final.

"To win makes you stronger for all the other competitions. I must give credit to my team. They have always shown a remarkable attitude in every competition."

Captain Cesc Fabregas joined Theo Walcott on the sidelines after a scan confirmed a hamstring problem. Both are doubts for the second leg of their Champions League tie away to Barcelona on March 8.

Wenger added: "Cesc is disappointed. We all feel sorry and sad for him. The only way we help him now is to win the Carling Cup as he contributed a lot in this competition."

The Premier League announced today that Arsenal's match at home to Manchester United has been moved to Sunday May 1 while the north London derby at White Hart Lane will now be played on Wednesday April 20.

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