As Arsenal prepare to visit Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers, Wenger says that it will be a stern test for the Gunners.
Arsenal will be travelling to face local rivals Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday in a bid to maintain their position in the Premier League and close in on second-placed Manchester City.
QPR are fighting a relegation battle, placed 17th in the league, but have impressed at home this season, picking up 19 of their 22 points at Loftus Road. Wenger said that the atmosphere at QPRa s home stadium resembles that of Arsenala s former stadium, Highbury.
a There is a difference between QPRa s home results and their away results,a the Arsenal manager said. a Ita s a bit like a Highbury atmosphere with a very tight ground, fans close, a committed team, but ita s an opportunity for us to continue our good away record in the Premier League and we want to take it.
a QPR are a team that fights not to go down. They have 22 points and there are four teams who are down there, with Leicester [on 18 points], so there are four teams at the moment around there. One of them will get out, maybe two, so you expect the commitment and the fight that you get from teams who fight not to go down.a
The Arsenal boss also spoke about how everyone should deserve a fair chance to manage at the top level in the Premier League, regardless of their ethnicity. Queens Park Rangersa manager, Chris Ramsey, is the only black manager in the league and Wenger believes that football and society should give everyone a fair chance.
a I think football and society in general just needs to give a chance to everybody, no matter where he comes from or how he looks,a he said. a Ia m for a society [where things are decided] on merit. Do black people get enough opportunities? Honestly, I dona t know. I hope yes.a
Arsenal are currently enjoying a good run in the Premier League and are vying for Champions League qualification. They are placed third in the league table, just four points behind second-place, which is currently occupied by Manchester City. Arsenal are nine points behind league leaders Chelsea, who also have a game in hand, and hence it will be unrealistic to expect Arsenal to challenge for the title. However, Champions League qualification is there for the taking and Arsenal can also realistically hope to give Manchester City a tough fight for the second place.
