Arsene Wenger says Arsenal can't 'over-think' at Everton
Friday 18 March 2016 11:25, UK
Arsene Wenger has told Arsenal not to "over-think" as they attempt to salvage their season at Everton on Saturday.
Defeats to Watford and Barcelona saw two of the club's three trophy chances disappear in the space of four days, leaving the Premier League as their last remaining target.
A run of 10 points from 27 means Arsenal go to Goodison Park 11 behind leaders Leicester and fighting to stay in the title race with nine games to play.
"I believe the team are up for it," Wenger said at his pre-match press conference. "We know the huge importance this game has to us. We have to not over-think. We just have to go out and perform.
"A negative result would be very bad for us so we hope for a positive result. The time is now to produce the result we want.
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"The Premier League is far from over. We also have to look behind us because things can change very quickly. We want to look forward but I'm conscious our position where we are now is not secure.
"Things can change before the end of the season. We have to take care of our own destiny."
A banner calling for Wenger to go was displayed by some of Arsenal's away supporters during this month's FA Cup win at Hull, and the Frenchman recently said the debate over his future was "becoming a farce".
Asked again about his critics he said: "We are always judged. We are always on permanent tribunal. Sometimes it is too negative. Sometimes it is too positive. I just want to do well.
"I love to win. That desire to win is my motivator. You are born like that and spend your whole life like that. Of course when we don't win I'm not happy."
Arsenal will be without Mathieu Flamini (hamstring) this weekend, while Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey are still out along with Petr Cech.
Wenger expects Cech and Ramsey to be available after the international break and says Wilshere is making good progress, but Cazorla's recovery from a knee injury has been complicated by an Achilles problem.
