Wenger ready to alter approach

Gunners chief happy to go direct

Last updated: 1st January 2008

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Wenger: Ready to change

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he is ready to turn ugly in a bid to win the Premier League title.

The Gunners ensured they finished the year at the top of the table with a hard-fought 4-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

Critics had suggested that Arsenal could not win the league by playing their pretty flowing football all the time and Wenger admits the direct approach could be the way forward.

"The important thing is to find a way to win the game," said Wenger

"Our goals did come from long balls but that was because Everton stopped us playing and we had to go a little bit longer.

Direct style

"I feel when you go with a direct style, you have to have two strikers and recently we have only played with one up front.

"I feel Adebayor and Bendtner have that kind of presence so, sometimes, it is useful to play long balls to them.

"I feel you have to accept all kinds of options. Sometimes it's a long ball and sometimes it's a short ball.

"It was even more important for us to do that here because, after a year when we have shown huge improvement, it was good to end it on top of the league."

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor says he would be happy to spend the rest of his career at Arsenal.

The Togo international, who came off the bench to score at Everton, is content with life at Arsenal and sees no reason why he would want to leave.

Progress

"I am a Gunner for life and I want to stay as that," Adebayor told The Sun. "I am enjoying London.

"The fans are great so why look elsewhere?

"I've always had a soft spot for Arsenal and many people in Africa support them so I also caught that fever.

"I had offers from other clubs but I chose Arsenal because it is a place I can make good progress."