Wenger calls on Gunners' belief
Arsene Wenger accepts there are now more doubts than ever over the future of his young Arsenal side.
However, the Gunners manager wants those challenges met head on in Tuesday night's Champions League play-off first leg against Udinese at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have lost their captain Cesc Fabregas as he rejoined Barcelona on Monday, and contract rebel Samir Nasri has labelled fans "disrespectful" for abusive chants against him during the Newcastle game.
"Maybe there are more questions about our quality this time, but that is where we have to show our strength and belief. We have a way to play football that we know," said the Arsenal boss, who has a 100% record in coming through their four Champions League qualifiers to date.
"No matter how big the game is you still have to play good football and make a good pass when you have the ball. It is not more complicated than that, even in a World Cup final.
"Afterwards you deal with whether you win or lose."
There is likely to be more fallout from Saturday's ill-tempered goalless draw at St James' Park, where summer signing Gervinho was sent off for slapping Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, sparking a melee which resulted in both clubs being charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players.
Alex Song, meanwhile, faces retrospective disciplinary action for his needless stamp on Barton earlier during the game.
Add to all that the fact Wenger must serve a touchline ban for his post-match comments against Swiss referee Massimo Busacca who had controversially dismissed striker Robin van Persie - also suspended on Tuesday night - in last season's Champions League defeat at Barcelona, and playing a potentially season-defining tie is hardly just what the doctor ordered.
Despite Wenger's positive rhetoric, there is no doubt losing a player of Fabregas' calibre will leave a gaping hole in the team, one which Wales captain Aaron Ramsey is set to again take on on Tuesday night, with Jack Wilshere sidelined.
Wenger had purposely excluded Fabregas from the Emirates Cup squad, admitting his captain had become unsettled.
