With a Premier League title challenge the priority for Arsenal, manager Arsene Wenger is preparing to ring the changes against West Ham for Sunday’s FA Cup tie.
Wenger’s policy of squad rotation for cup matches will likely be utilized as Arsenal seek to keep players fit for Premier League action while still progressing in the world’s oldest cup competition. Wenger hinted that Philippe Senderos and Tomas Rosicky in particular could be set for first-team action.
The Arsenal manager said, "I will have to rest some players, that is for sure.
"We want to win, but we want to protect our home games against Bolton and Everton as well, to keep the momentum going. The Premier League is always more important [than the FA Cup], but, in the eyes of the fans, we are looking for trophies.”
Being more specific, Wenger said that Swiss defender Senderos would be given a chance if fit, “We have a big test with Senderos, he could be back. He has had an inflammation under his foot and every time he started to play the pain came back. That's why I am a bit cautious but he will have a definite test and we will see how he responds to that.
"He is physically very sharp because he has worked a lot with our fitness coach (Tony Colbert ). I just want to see now how he responds in training. I don't know yet, it is too early. I still have 48 hours to decide."
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