Arsene Wenger says he opted to axe Wojciech Szczesny from tonight's Champions League second-leg clash at Bayern Munich because playing too many matches has affected the goalkeeper's mental state.
The Gunners are set to hand a first start in more than a year to Lukasz Fabianski as they look to overturn a 3-1 deficit at the Allianz Arena.
"He (Szczesny) has played many games since the start of the season and recently I felt that mentally it affected him, that is why I have decided to rest him," Wenger said.
"(He has been affected) by the number of games he has played. It is his second season only in the Premier League and he has played many games.
"I am always confident before the game that the guy who plays is ready. The players who start our games have no excuse of not being fit or ready."
Wenger added that it was not an unusual move to drop his No1 (above).
"Some of our players have played many, many games since the start of the season. That is why you have a big squad and you sometimes rotate the players."
Wenger maintains this evening's showdown must all be about what his own side can produce and not just down to whether Jupp Heynckes' well-drilled outfit have a rare off day.
"It is difficult to speculate on any weakness in Bayern. The only way we can do is to focus on Bayern being at their best," he said.
"The fact they dominate their championship so much gives everybody a bit more mental strength and the whole team a bit more charisma, the doubt is not there at all.
"But for us the target will be to get some doubt in their minds and that can only come with a quality game."
