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CHAMPIONSHIP: GUNNERS MANAGER IMPRESSED BY FABREGAS STEEL August 29, 2007
(SomaliNet) As the Gunners prepare for another Champions League battle, Gunners manager, Arsene Wenger is delighted Cesc Fabregas has added a steel to Arsenal's midfield.
Meanwhile, Sparta Prague captain Tomas Repka declared before the third-round first-leg clash in the Czech capital a fortnight ago he intended to "sort out" Arsenal.
The Gunners have earned a reputation as being soft touches but Fabregas belied his slight frame to lead the resistance against robust opposition as Wenger's side came away with a 2-0 victory.
Fabregas sent Repka packing with a crunching tackle that left the former West Ham hardman with a knee injury - he is expected to be fit for Wednesday night - and scored the opener.
Wenger believes it is vital Arsenal prove they will not be bullied on the pitch and welcomes Fabregas' defiance.
He said: "I'm sorry if Fabregas injured Repka but Repka in the press conference was not very subtle and that's why it happened.
"We have to show that people can't say anything about the team lacking aggression but we want to play good football and not get involved in any controversy.
"We have no suspicions about this game. Repka was a very committed player but it's difficult to accept what he said on television.
"I don't worry about Cesc being so committed. It's part of being young and playing in centre midfield.
"It's part of Cesc's character. I don't think Repka will go looking for him."
Arsenal enter Wednesday night's clash without goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who Wenger claims is suffering from an Achilles injury.
Reports have suggested the German was dropped from the side that defeated Manchester City 1-0 on Saturday as punishment for two high-profile blunders against Fulham and Blackburn.
Lehmann's future at the Emirates appears to be in doubt and Wenger admitted Manuel Almunia now has a chance to stake his claim to be number one keeper.
"Whether Jens is still number one or not goes from game to game. I have the highest respect for Jens," he said,
"But saying Jens will be first choice when he gets back from injury is asking me to say that no matter how well Almunia plays, he will always be dropped for Jens.
"You can never say that to a player because it means his performance is not important.
"Of course at the start of the season we lost number one but now the number two has come in we have to give him a chance.
"But you make choices like this when everyone is fit. Almunia is good enough to give me a selection problem." -Eurosport