Arsenal must look at securing a successful conclusion to the campaign rather than worrying about the long-term future of stars like Cesc Fabregas. "Our success depends on how well we focus on short-term and how intelligent we are to rule out all the long-term speculation," the Arsenal manager said.

"We have answered that question (on Fabregas) for five years now.

"What is important is that a player like Cesc can come back into the squad and help us be successful."

Wenger maintained: "What is important for us is not who stays in July or who goes, it is how much we focus on the next game.

"It is how well we deal with that kind of thing inside the club; that is more important than what people say.

"Any distraction would be a weakness from our side and a wrong excuse. We do not want that.

"We cannot influence what people say, or write or think.

"We can influence how much success we can achieve together.

"The period which is in front of us can be a formidable human experience for our players, and that is what I want it to be."