Wenger fears tired legs

ARSENAL VIEW Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits tiredness is his main worry as the Gunners chase three trophies.

They regained a nine-point lead at the Premiership with a win at Blackburn.

Wenger said after the 2-0 win: "Tiredness is a worry because we will go into key periods where we will play games like this one every week.

"We looked dangerous in the first half but missed a little spark. We could not allow ourselves to get frustrated and get caught on the break."

The Arsenal manager insists that he will be able to continue to rely on Thierry Henry, who he felt benefited from a rest in January.

Henry broke the deadlock with a free-kick and Robert Pires added a second in the closing seconds.

Wenger added: "We have 10 league games left, six at home and four away.

"I won't rest Thierry at home and physically he can cope - he has immense physical resources even though he was a bit tired in this game."

We wanted it and our mental strength kept us going Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Blackburn were furious at the free-kick awarded against Craig Short for a foul on Henry that led to the French striker's opener.

But Wenger said: "It looked a free-kick to me at the time and having seen it again on TV I didn't change my mind.

"I can understand Souness' frustration but it looked as though Craig Short pushed Thierry Henry who was in front of him.

"It was a difficult game for us - their game plan was to let us have the ball, drop off and don't give us any space. It was a disciplined performance by them.

"We were not as fluent as we can be and needed to be patient and hope for something special from one of our players and, as so often, Thierry Henry gave us that.

"We wanted it and our mental strength kept us going.

"We had a very solid defensive performance. Last year we were not able to draw on that kind of performance as often we were a goal down and under pressure."