Wenger calls for domestic focus (From Northwich Guardian)

Wenger calls for domestic focus

7:11pm Friday 19th March 2010 in National Sport News © Press Association 2011

Arsene Wenger has called on his Arsenal players to focus on beating West Ham on Saturday to go top of the Barclays Premier League rather than be distracted by their glamour Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.

The Gunners were drawn against the holders and favourites on Friday morning, whom they lost against in the 2006 final in Paris.

Wenger is looking forward to the tie, but warned: "We have fought since August for the championship and it is important we keep our mind on what is vital to us - that is the championship, then we can go into the Champions League with the right belief."

With former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry now plying his trade at the Nou Camp and current Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas to return to face his boyhood club, the Barcelona tie certainly captures the imagination.

Wenger added: "If you go to the bookmakers and try to place a few pounds, you will see that we are not favourites against Barcelona.

"Of course they are a good side, but so are we. For me, we have a 50/50 game - if we turn up with our best performance we have a good chance to beat them.

"It will be an interesting, exciting game. We have to make sure we have the belief and focus right."