Arsene Wenger has hinted that he will rotate his Arsenal squad for the FA Cup clash with Boro this weekend as the Gunners get set for a crucial run of fixtures throughout February.
While Aitor Karanka takes his side to the Championship’s bottom club tonight, Arsenal take on Premier League basement boys Leicester City as they look to bounce back from the painful North London derby defeat on Saturday.
With the race for Champions League places hotting up and the first leg of the Champions League last-16 clash with Monaco to come before the end of the month, Wenger admits he will utilise the depth of his squad during what he describes as a “very important period”.
“We are going into a period where we play many games and where all our squad will be highly important,” he told the club's website.
“(It is important that) every player is focused, determined and ambitious.”
Star man Alexis Sanchez is available for the Gunners again tonight after missing the derby with a hamstring injury and the dangerous forward could well line up against Boro on Sunday.
Jack Wilshere has returned to training following his latest injury set-back but the fifth round tie could come too soon for the England midfielder while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also miss out.
Arsenal have been installed as favourites to retain this year’s FA Cup following a fourth-round weekend that was riddled with surprises.
But Wenger refuses to look beyond tonight’s league clash with Leicester and is demanding a response from his side following the defeat to Spurs.
“What you focus on is how you can put your team in a position to respond well and quickly and get on with your job,” he said.
“We have a very important period in front of us with the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup.
“It is important that the team responds very well and very quickly.”
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