Wenger's Sevilla gamble

Arsene Wenger has admitted he is taking a gamble against Sevilla and has decided to rest key men Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas for the game in Spain. Arsenal already look set to have qualified for the next round of the Champions League.

“I see it as a compulsory problem to rest some of the players,” Wenger said on the club’s official website.

“For example, Gallas has played all the games recently and two France games. And we’ll be playing three matches next week.

“Adebayor has as well played all the games until now and the national games. He travelled back on Thursday morning and he was very tired then he gave a lot on Saturday. So I thought why should I play him?

“Bendtner will get a start. He has played well when he has come on. But he had not the best game in Prague so I want to give him another chance.

“It is a gamble but at some stage I have to take one. I want to finish top of the group and keep our [unbeaten] run going. I want to combine the two. That should not be dependent on whether Gallas or Adebayor are starting.”