Wenger under fire ahead of team's crunch Euro date

Arsene Wenger admits vulnerable Arsenal must show some fight to avoid more misery in Wednesday's crucial Champions League playoff first leg against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

Wenger's team suffered a dismal start to the Premier League campaign as Aston Villa romped to a surprise 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsenal's lackluster display sparked a furious response from Gunners fans, who left Wenger in no doubt they blame him for failing to fulfil the club's preseason promise to spend big on new signings.

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust joined the chorus of disapproval on Monday when it called on the club to halt any contract talks with Wenger and focus instead on rebuilding the squad.

After eight years without a trophy, Wenger and his players are already under intense pressure. Failing to qualify for the lucrative Champions League group stages would be a disaster in the current climate of dissatisfaction.

But to make matters worse for Wenger, he was hit with a series of injuries against Villa which have left him with just eight fit senior players.

England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sustained a serious knee problem that could rule him out for several months, while Kieran Gibbs, Bacary Sagna, Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey joined a growing injury list that already includes Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal and Thomas Vermaelen.

In the circumstances, Wenger could have done with an easier task than trying to emerge unscathed from Fenerbahce's deafening Sukru Saracoglu stadium.

And Wenger let his guard down as he conceded his team is more fragile than he would like.

"We missed chances, were unlucky and had injuries, roll the three together and it is a fragile position, but the difference between us and the rest is not massive," Wenger said.

"I believe our season will depend on how we respond to this defeat.

"After such a disappointing start it will be difficult, but we will bounce back because the spirit and the focus in the team is good.

"It is a vital game for us because we have fought very hard to be in this position.

"It is a tricky fixture, but we want to finish the job now."

With only one signing since the end of last season and a series of failed bids for the likes of Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Gustavo, Wenger sorely needs a new face or two to lift spirits at the Emirates.

But there was no sign of Wenger's luck improving before Arsenal headed to Turkey as Newcastle rejected his reported 12 million pound bid for France midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

An Arsenal offer of a combined 35 million pound bid for Swansea duo Michu and Ashley Williams is said to be in the pipeline, while moves for Schalke's Japanese right-back Atsuto Uchida and Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran have also been touted.

But for now Wenger is concentrating on restoring his players' morale in time to secure a positive result against a Fenerbahce team whose future in the competition remains uncertain.

Fenerbahce finished second last season, but was handed a two-year ban for match-fixing by UEFA in June which related to the end of the 2010-11 domestic championship.

However, it was reinstated in the competition after an emergency ruling by CAS, which is pending a full hearing after the conclusion of the playoff.

"You can go up the Eiffel Tower and throw the money away, but you play with the players you have," Wenger said of the task facing his team.

"What is important is to rebuild the confidence of the team before Wednesday night.

"That is a massive game for us. In the next two or three days I will focus on that and let people around me work on the rest."

(China Daily 08/21/2013 page23)