Wenger ready for battle

Wenger expecting physical encounter

By Andrew Scurr   Last updated: 17th August 2007

Wenger ready for battle

Wenger: Preparing side for battle

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Arsene Wenger is preparing his Arsenal side for a "committed battle" against Blackburn at the weekend.

Arsenal return to Premier League action at Ewood Park on Sunday following a physical encounter with Sparta Prague in UEFA Champions League qualifying in midweek.

Wenger is expecting a similar type of game against Blackburn after recent encounters between the two sides.

"I have never been in a room when another manager has instructed their team, so I do not know what they say to their players," Wenger said.

"I do not know how he [Mark Hughes] approaches the game.

"We will go there and try to play our game. I do not worry about how they approach the game too much.

"It will be a committed battle at Blackburn, but you expect that.

"We have to be patient, resilient and do what we did until now. We have to believe in ourselves and allow our football to express itself. We have to play as we want to play."

Wenger hopes Sunday's referee Alan Wiley remains strong and stamps out any foul play early on in the game.

"There is a rulebook to protect the players, I do not go to any game with any preconceived ideas," he added.

"I said last year we are the team who made less fouls than anybody else in the league, so we cannot say that Arsenal kick people.

"The referee has to protect the players when a team tries to see how far they can go."