LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stressed he will not consider resting key players for Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Everton, even though his side face a crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich just three days later.
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Wenger named a much-changed team for his side’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Liverpool last month, which came a few days before the first leg of the Champions League last-16 clash against Bayern at Emirates Stadium.
With Arsenal facing a huge task to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit at the Allianz Arena, Wenger has confirmed the FA Cup will be his priority before he begins to turn his attentions to the daunting trip to Germany.
“It’s the quarterfinal of the FA Cup. We want to do well and we want to qualify and to win,” he stated. “This is one of the priorities. The top priority is always to do well in the Premier League.
“The FA Cup is our next game and after a disappointing result at Stoke, we have to come back with a strong response. The FA Cup is our absolute priority just because it is our next game.
“Seven changes may be too much [for the upcoming game against Everton]. We will consider the team that has a good chance to win tomorrow, that’s all.”
Defender Laurent Koscielny is a doubt for Saturday’s game after he picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with France earlier this week.
Aside from the foot injury suffered by Jack Wilshere on England duty, Wenger reported no fresh injury problems and confirmed midfielder Aaron Ramsey is set to return to action in the north London derby against Tottenham on March 16.