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Arsene Wenger reveals pitch concerns ahead of Arsenal's FA Cup match at Sutton

Arsene Wenger looks on from the touchline prior to the Premier League match between against Bournemouth
Image: Arsene Wenger has admitted his concern at the prospect of Arsenal facing Sutton on an artificial pitch

Arsene Wenger had his Arsenal players training on an artificial pitch as they prepared for their FA Cup fifth-round tie at non-league Sutton on Monday.

The under-fire Frenchman has taken no risks in readying his players for a game which they are expected to win, but where the consequences of defeat are almost too dire to contemplate.

Wenger's 20-year reign has come under intense scrutiny following a 5-1 Champions League thrashing at Bayern Munich last week, while two defeats in three Premier League games have all-but ended hopes of a domestic title.

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Sutton goalkeeper Wayne Shaw shows us round the ground ahead of their FA Cup match with Arsenal

The 67-year-old insists he will make a decision on whether to sign a new contract with the Gunners in March or April and will continue to manage next season, even if it is away from the Emirates.

Even Lincoln's victory over top-flight Burnley on Saturday would be eclipsed if Sutton could knock out the 12-time FA Cup winners - and Wenger is therefore preparing meticulously for the clash on the 3G artificial surface that will greet his players at Gander Green Lane.

Jamie Collins (C) celebrates scoring Sutton's opening goal
Image: Jamie Collins (C) celebrates scoring the only goal in Sutton's victory over Leeds in the previous round

Asked what the main dangers facing his side on Monday night would be, Wenger said: "First of all the pitch.

"Secondly their enthusiasm and thirdly that we are not ready for a big fight and subconsciously think that they are a non-league team and it is no matter - but that will not happen.

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"Ideally we would like to play on a normal pitch but it has been accepted and the competition is to deal with what you face. We will face an unusual pitch and we will have to deal with it.

Welbeck out of Sutton tie
Welbeck out of Sutton tie

Danny Welbeck will play no part in Arsenal's game at Sutton because of their artificial pitch

"We will practise inside because it is an artificial pitch. It is not the same because it is a dry pitch and Sutton I have heard have a wet pitch which they water before the game and is quicker.

"The weight on the joints is different and you cannot slide to block every time so it makes football a bit different. The ball comes to you suddenly and accelerates and does not slow down like in a normal game, so we have to get used to the different speed."

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Watch the best bits of Arsene Wenger's media conference

The winners of Monday night's match will host Lincoln in the quarter-finals.

Wenger, who has lifted the FA Cup on six occasions since taking over at Arsenal in 1996, maintains he is always desperate to counter a bad result with a reaction, and revealed how he has always taken defeat badly.

"I am a positive person. I am a fighter, somewhere. You don't stay so long in this job otherwise," he said.

'Arsenal could hammer us'
'Arsenal could hammer us'

Sutton boss Paul Doswell says his side could struggle to contain Arsenal

"I've always seen the future in a positive way. I do not expect too much from outside, I expect more from me inside. The expectation level gets higher.

"The fight doesn't get higher. The fight is always tough. When you hate defeat like I hate defeat, it's always tough. As well, I'm determined to always fight back.

"I can never transmit to you my feelings about defeats. A player when I managed for the first time at 33 or 34 said that after our first defeat I threw up. Whether you are young or old, every defeat hurts."

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