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Sympathetic Wenger will show Blues no mercy

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can 'understand the pain' felt by Chelsea following their exit from the Champions League - but has no intentions of showing the Blues much sympathy at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

It has been a difficult week for the Blues, who saw their hopes of retaining the Premiership title dented as Manchester United opened up a five-point gap at the top before they then suffered Champions League semi-final heartache at Liverpool.

While Wenger's men have certainly not been consistent this season, the Arsenal manager takes no sense of satisfaction from the misfortunes of other teams.

He said: 'Of course I feel sorry for Chelsea. The players are players and you understand that no matter how much rich a club is, you understand how painful it is to go out as a player or a coach. You respect that.'

Although the Gunners could effectively end the Blues' title challenge on Sunday, Wenger insists proving their own worth is the only motivation his players need.

'For us, it is a chance to beat them,' he said. 'We just want to win our games and to show we are ready for next season to fight at the top.

'It will be a good opportunity to do that on Sunday, to show how good we can be next season.'

Chelsea beat Arsenal in the Carling Cup final which was marred by a mass brawl and resulted in players from both sides being suspended as well as £100,000 fines for the clubs.

Wenger, though, maintains Sunday will not be about exacting revenge.

He added: 'Our desire is to beat them. If we played Manchester United, then it would be exactly the same.'

Wenger feels Ashley Cole may not feature against his old club on Sunday.

The England left-back moved from Arsenal on the closing day of the August transfer window, with William Gallas heading in the opposite direction.

The circumstances of the switch, however, left a sour taste for many Gunners fans.

Wenger would prefer to remember the part Cole, 26, played in their successes.

'Ashley Cole is a winner and can raise his game in the big games. When you had to perform, he was always there and was a big-game player,' said the Gunners boss.

'I want us to respect Ashley Cole for what he has done for the club. I do not want the fans to boo him, but you cannot expect anything in football.'

Chelsea have reached the FA Cup final, but could well end the campaign with only victory at the Millennium Stadium to show for all their endeavours - not to mention investment in the team.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry belittled Chelsea's achievements this season following their Champions League exit at the hands of the Reds, claiming 'when you have invested £500million it is a fantastic season to win the League Cup.'

Wenger, though, maintained: 'That is disrespectful. They will have money now Liverpool and it does not mean they will win everything. It makes headlines, but it is not really football.'