Wenger focuses on the future after landmark week

Arsene Wenger this week became Arsenal’s longest-serving manager but the Frenchman has refused to dwell on previous successes during his 13-year reign, preferring instead to focus on future targets.

Without a trophy since the FA Cup in 2005, the pressure on Wenger to deliver silverware has been increasing with every passing season, particularly as the manager steadfastly refuses to spend heavily in the transfer market.

Already this season, Wenger has come in for criticism following successive away defeats at Manchester United and Manchester City but this weekend’s visit of Blackburn to the Emirates Stadium presents his side with a great opportunity to push their way back into the title race.

Chelsea’s slip at Wigan last weekend helped open things up, and with Carlo Ancelotti?s side facing Liverpool this weekend, at least one of the main contenders will definitely drop more points.

That gives Arsenal the chance to mark Wenger’s achievement by claiming a sixth successive victory in all competitions since the City defeat and further justify the manager’s belief that his side is getting stronger with every passing week.

“Sunday is a good opportunity to continue our good run, to come back in the league because we have a game in hand,” Wenger said. “We have played away four times at difficult places and are in a strong position, so let’s take advantage of that.

“That is all much more important than history. Our overall performance in the games has been quite good, very promising. Even when we had little disappointment in two games, the quality of the performance was still there.

“We did transform that disappointment into more desire and came back every time. I believe the spirit is there, the quality is there and we know it is a very big and important season for us. I am confident we will do well.”

Wenger’s options have been boosted by the return to the squad of Theo Walcott after a long standing back problem and striker Nicklas Bendtner who survived a car crash this week with only minor bruising.

Last week’s win at Fulham – a victory built on a determined defensive display and a man of the match performance by stand-in keeper Vito Mannone – showed Wenger’s side is more resilient than it once was, quality that will again be tested by Blackburn.

Rovers manager Sam Allardyce enjoyed a long running feud with Wenger when he was in charge.

The Arsenal manager often claimed his side were subject to unnecessarily physical treatment from Bolton but Allardyce has cast aside previous spats by paying tribute to his fellow manager’s development of the north London club.

“I think it’s great credit to him and to Arsenal to have plotted the way forward the last six or eight years or so,” said Allardyce. “They have changed course from the early days when they used to go out and pay big money for players.”

Allardyce, though, is more concerned with his own club’s fortunes after an indifferent start to the season and ahead of a testing month when they will also face Chelsea and Manchester United as well as local rivals Burnley.

He added: “The only good thing about October is my birthday on the 19th. We’ve got to try and pull off a shock result against Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United this month.

“We have seven points but by the end of October we have to be in double figures or beyond it. It’s a difficult ask in those four games, but it’s not beyond us.”