Wenger: Monaco told us Anthony Martial was not for sale

Petr Cech has backed his Arsenal teammates to deal with the threat of in-form striker Anthony Martial when Manchester United visit the Emirates on Sunday.

It does not help the mood of frustration around Arsenal, who did not sign an outfield player in the summer, that Wenger admitted that while liking Anthony Martial he believed Monaco when they said the forward was not for sale – before United bought him for a fee rising to pounds 58?million.

“But now there are teams who have progressed and you have to be at your best to get the points”.

The Premier League has only two representatives in this season’s Europa League: Liverpool and Tottenham.

However, just how to f ollow the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson – who famously made a U-turn a few 12 months on from his initial retirement announcement in May 2001 – is not on Wenger’s immediate agenda.

“He said, “[Arsenal] don’t prepare for a big game like it’s a big game. They have been playing well, snatching results and if they get pass Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium it could make them favorites for the title.

“The side that is hungrier is going to win this game on Sunday“. The Red Devils have improved hugely since his introduction.

Arsene Wenger’s men have not beaten United in the English Premier League since May 2011, a run of eight games stretching back to the infamous 8-2 thrashing the Gunners suffered at Old Trafford in August that year.

Since the 2008/09 season, Arsenal have won only two of their EPL fixtures against Man United out of a possible 14, losing eight matches and drawing four.

He said: ” I think you lack a bit of creativity in the press at the moment, that you follow a bandwagon that is very very, very, very boring.

Juan Mata has been in superb form in recent weeks, and the Spaniard was instrumental in United’s 2-1 midweek win over Wolfsburg, scoring the equaliser from the penalty spot before setting up Chris Smalling’s decisive goal. Man United have a much better ratio of 1.43 gpg against Arsenal in the EPL.

Reuters Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.

“I am always scared – I have heard that so many times, “next year I will retire” and then they continue or go somewhere else”.

The experienced midfielder missed the win over Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Wednesday with a minor problem but was named in Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad on Thursday.

“It will be really hard for both sides, with Arsenal expected to put on a display in front of their own fans, so I guess I had better sit on the fence and go for a draw”.