Wenger Keen To Avoid 'Accidents'

Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal side to avoid any accidents and make sure they finish the Premier League season in style.

The Gunners have two home games left, against relegation-threatened Sunderland on Wednesday and then against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and need two points to be absolutely assured of finishing no lower than third.

Two wins could even allow them to finish as runners-up to Chelsea, their best finish for 10 years.

But for a surprise 1-0 home defeat by Swansea City last week they would already be assured of a top-three spot, and Wenger, whose side have an FA Cup final to look forward to, wants no repeat performance against Sunderland.

"We have put so much effort in that it would be stupid not to finish the job well," Wenger told a news conference.

"For me the Swansea game was an accident.

"Sunderland need a point to be safe so I expect them to be well organised defensively, sound at the back, and to try to use all the counter-attacks they can, all the set-pieces they have, to score goals.

"We have to put a high rhythm into this game and play with a high level of energy to win the game."

Wenger said catching Manchester City was a remote possibility.

"We have a possibility to take the six points, but it will not be enough if Man City win their last game against Southampton," he said.

"The fact is likely, so how many chances we have, I don't know, but the only chance we have is to win our games."

Wenger steadfastly refused to be drawn on speculation surrounding the future of Liverpool's Raheem Sterling who is reported to be seeking a move away from Anfield.

"Look, I do not bid for anybody at the moment, but in the summer, we will bid for people, yes. But at the moment, we are not in transfer mode at all," he said.

"We have a big squad at the moment and ... we do not need a number of players.

"What I want is to finish well the season, and after I will make my decisions."

'Sterling Should Be Embarrassed'

   

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling has come under a withering attack from two of the club's former stalwarts over his apparent reluctance to sign a reported £100 000 per week contract.

The 20-year-old England international's future at Liverpool is clouded in uncertainty with British media reports on Tuesday suggesting Sterling is poised to request a transfer.

Manchester City are one of the club's being linked with a move for Sterling who, according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been offered an "incredible" new contract.

With Liverpool insisting Sterling is not for sale, the saga is bound to rumble on into the summer and Jamie Carragher, now a television pundit, said he should be embarrassed to walk into training this week and suggested a change of agent.

"I'd be embarrassed to walk into training tomorrow and show my face to everyone; even the lady on the reception," former Liverpool defender Carragher told Sky Sports.

"Raheem Sterling is a great kid. He's not some flash young kid. He's not loud, he's not in people's faces. He loves his football.

"He needs to change his agent. That's the one thing he needs to change.

"For a 20-year-old kid to be taking on Liverpool Football Club, there's nothing worse.

"Raheem Sterling will obviously move on at some stage. Brendan Rodgers has said he won't be leaving this summer but it looks like he's trying to force the club's hand."

Carragher said Sterling still had to prove he was worth the kind of salary enjoyed by the Premier League's biggest names.

"If you want trophies and big money they won't be given to you, you have to earn them," Carragher said.

"What did Liverpool win this year? Nothing."

Former Liverpool winger John Barnes, who Sterling has been compared to, echoed Carragher's comments.

"Raheem has not achieved anything, he has not won anything," Barnes told the BBC.

"Does anyone believe that if he goes to Manchester City he will be the first name on the team sheet or are they just signing him because they need English players?"

"Raheem has great potential, but Liverpool gave him an opportunity and he should stay for a couple of years."