
LONDON: Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal must use Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against FC Twente to get back on track after their shock defeat at Fulham.
The Gunners produced one of their worst performances in recent memory in Saturday’s 1-0 loss and Wenger left Craven Cottage with a multitude of problems to contemplate. With Cesc Fabregas injured, Arsenal lacked any creativity, leaving Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor starved of service.
That might have been surmountable if Kolo Toure and William Gallas hadn’t been so sloppy at the back. Such an unsettling result so early in the season - after two underwhelming victories - has left Wenger concerned about his young team’s ability to fulfill their potential.
Arsenal hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg against Steve McClaren’s Twente and that should be enough to cruise through to the lucrative group stage. But Wenger can’t afford another morale-denting defeat so the Dutch visitors will be greeted by a full-strength team at the Emirates Stadium.