Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger gunning for goals ahead of key games

ARSENE WENGER says Arsenal's next three games could play a huge part in their season.

PROFESSOR: Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger believes it's make-or-break time for his Arsenal team [GETTY]

And the Gunners boss has promised to go on the attack against Napoli tonight.
Arsenal need to avoid a 3-0 defeat against Rafa Benitez's team to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for a 14th straight season.

But Wenger is not thinking about playing safe as he wants to keep the momentum going in the first of a tricky trio of games.
The north London side travel to Manchester City on Saturday followed by the visit of Chelsea.
And he plans to make a statement of intent as his men look to maintain their stranglehold at the top of the Premier League.

JACK THE LAD: Wenger knows that stars like Jack Wilshere have a major part to play in the weeks ahead [ARSENAL FC VIA GETTY]

“The championship is a marathon and we will be in the race no matter what happens”

Arsene Wenger

"This game certainly will define our season," he said.
"It is to be in the Champions League or not. The other two games not definitely, because we are five points ahead.

"The championship is a marathon and we will be in the race no matter what happens, but it will show our strengths.
"Napoli is a decider, that is for sure. We want to win and it is the only way we can approach the game.
"Benitez has a lot of experience and is a very intelligent manager. He will prepare his team well.
"The only way to counter that is to be at our best and put on a good performance.

"Our priorities are simple - first qualify, if possible top."
Arsenal, who have let in only two goals in their last eight games, have the upper hand as they lead the group on 12 points, three clear of Borussia Dortmund and Napoli.
And the Italians need that 3-0 win or to better the result of Dortmund, who visit bottom side Marseille.

HITMAN: Wenger has backed striker Olivier Giroud after being linked with Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain over the summer [GETTY]

The ability to keep summer target striker Gonzalo Higuain on a tight rein will be key to Arsenal's hopes, with Wenger adding: "Higuain is a player you have to keep quiet.

"He is, of course, very dangerous, the more we can play outside the box, the easier it will be for us to keep him quiet."
Arsenal's £30m bid ultimately came to nothing, with the Gunners instead landing the Argentinian's former Real Madrid team-mate, midfielder Mesut Ozil, instead.

"Could I have signed both? That is a question that is very difficult to answer the day before the game," Wenger added.
"Am I happy with the player I got in Ozil? Very much. There was a lot of statements that were not true about Higuain. He has joined Benitez, he is in good hands and shows he is a great striker.
"We have Olivier Giroud, who shows that he is a top striker."

With the Manchester City game coming less than 72 hours after tonight's test, Wenger is concerned about fatigue but is not planning too many changes.
"I rotate a little bit sometimes, never more than two or three, because stability is important," he said.