Arsene Wenger explains Arsenal’s Champions League squad for Olympiakos clash

Monday, December 3, 2012
2:41 PM

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has named a young squad for his side’s final Champions League game against Olympiakos.

The Gunners have named five players in their squad who have yet to play first-team football for the club – Zak Ansah, Sead Hajrovic, Elton Monteiro, Chuba Akpom and James Shea.

“Some players needed a rest because they were a bit on the fringe of injury, and some players are injured,” explained Wenger before travelling to Greece.

“When I count the injured players I speak about Podolski and Walcott. We needed to rest Wilshere, 100 per cent, and Cazorla, Arteta and Mertesacker played many games recently. They have been rested.

“It is [to avoid fatigue], and we have one luxury, that we can do it. But we have as well one necessity, to win the game tomorrow night. I tried to find the right balance between resting some players and as well having a competitive team tomorrow night.”

Arsenal squad: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Squillaci, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Chamakh, Angha, Ansah, Hajrovic, Meade, Monteiro, Shea, Akpom