(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Arsenal looks to advance with win over AZ Alkmaar

By ROB HARRIS,

LONDON (AP) Arsenal can demonstrate that it has the consistency to challenge for titles both in Europe and at home in England by beating AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday to reach the knockout round in the Champions League, manager Arsene Wenger said Tuesday.

Arsenal defeated Tottenham 3-0 Saturday to close the gap on Premier League leader Chelsea to five points with a game in hand.

But having seen his side concede a last-minute equalizer to AZ two weeks ago, Wenger doesn't want his players to relax against the Dutch champions at Emirates Stadium.

"We have to show that we can focus every three days, that we can play for each other every three days, all along the season. Also, that we can prepare every game with the same kind of conscientious attitude and that we can win," Wenger said.

"Tomorrow, we have to show that we can go into the game with the same seriousness that we have done on Saturday. There are a lot of things which we have still to accomplish. It is all in front of us."

A victory would allow the Gunners to focus on the Premier League until the knockout round begins in February despite having two Group H matches remaining.

"I am happy with the confidence," said Wenger, who has not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup. "However, you do not have to confuse confidence with arrogance. The confidence comes from that we are in this job to try to win, and I am very happy that the players believe they can do it.

"Usually, when you are guided by fear, you are scared to come out and say things because you feel stupid if we don't do it. I want my players to have that confidence and to be honest about it."

AZ coach Ronald Koeman believes his team has been buoyed by the 1-1 draw between the sides at the DSB Stadion.

"It's the most difficult one of the six (games) that we have to play, but we had a good result at home," Koeman told reporters before an open training session at the Emirates.

"We respect very much Arsenal, a team with more qualities than we have. But not always the best team will win. We have got confidence from the first game and we will try to do well tomorrow."

The former Netherlands international believes Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is "at the moment our best Dutch player that we have."

He also maintained that Arsenal can win the Champions League, saying the team has "fantastic players."

Arsenal leads Group H with seven points from three matches, one more than Olympiakos, which can also qualify Wednesday by beating last-place Standard Liege if the Gunners win.

If both Arsenal and Olympiakos advance, they would only be playing for first place over the last two matches.

Although Czech Republic playmaker Tomas Rosicky is back in Arsenal's squad following a knee problem, France defender Gael Clichy was ruled out for up to a month Tuesday with a suspected stress fracture in his lower back.

Kieran Gibbs, who will take Clichy's spot at left back, played in last season's run to the Champions League semifinals.

"I was very comfortable now to have a solution to rest Clichy when it was needed and play Gibbs," Wenger said. "Now, suddenly there is a huge stress on Gibbs to play in every game."

AZ still believes it can advance despite only having two points. Last month, David Mendes da Silva scored an injury-time equalizer to clinch a morale-boosting home draw with Arsenal.

The Dutch side is going to be without its top scorer, striker Mounir El Hamdaoui, who is out for a month after tearing a muscle in his thigh last week.

Associated Press writer Frank Griffiths contributed to this report.

Updated November 3, 2009