The 64-year-old insists his side had no issues with the Uruguayan’s past misdemeanors during their attempts to bring him to the Emirates Stadium in the summer

Arsene Wenger insists he had no doubts over Luis Suarez’s morals when he tried to bring the Liverpool striker to north London this summer.

Arsenal made two formal bids for the Uruguayan in the close-season as they attempted to lure the forward to the Emirates Stadium, despite the fact he was banned for 10 matches for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

However, Wenger has revealed that the did not hold concerns over Suarez’s temperament, even though he has also served previous bans for biting (in the Netherlands) and racial abuse.

“The player has been punished for what he did,” the Arsenal boss told reporters.

“We have high moral grounds and, of course, we take information about the moral level of the players and when there is any restriction about it, we do not buy the players.

“If some clubs were interested in buying him, it’s because he played well before as well.”

Wenger will come up against Suarez for the first time since bidding for him on Saturday as second-placed Liverpool visit the league leaders at the Emirates.

But the Frenchman did not reveal whether Arsenal will lodge any more bids for the 26-year-old in the future.

“I’m not focused on that now,” he said. “Look, he plays for Liverpool tomorrow. At the moment, he is doing very well. What is important for me is the players who play for Arsenal, really, not those who could play for Arsenal.

“The details of all that [Arsenal’s pursuit of Suarez] will maybe come out one day. Maybe not in my book! In somebody else’s book.”

After the Gunners’ clash with Liverpool, Wenger’s side face a tough test as they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United the following weekend.

The American believes the Reds are on track to claim a top-four finish and qualify for European football, while also admitting the importance of challenging for major honours

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner believes the club are on track to claim a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
The Anfield outfit are looking to secure Champions League football for the first time since 2009, falling well off the pace last season with a seventh-place finish.

But Liverpool have shown vast improvement this term and trail league leaders Arsenal by just two points ahead of the two sides’ meeting at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

And Werner – who is also chairman of newly-crowned Major League Baseball World Series champions Boston Red Sox – is optimistic Brendan Rodgers’ men can challenge for European football.

“We know how much it means to our fans to get to the top of the Premier League and get back into the Champions League,” Werner is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

“I just want to keep going in the right direction.

“We entered into this crazy world of football because we wanted to bring more trophies into the trophy room at Anfield.

“Our performance on the pitch has improved this year. Things are all looking good.

“It is a terrific league. There are so many teams bunched up at the top. It is going to be a dogfight.”

The Reds travel to north London to face Arsene Wenger’s side on Saturday afternoon before hosting Fulham at Anfield the following week.

The 53-year-old insists he will not be drawn on the personal feud, defending his actions during his time as Liverpool manager, while also praising Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney

Rafa Benitez has refused to respond to comments made about him and Steven Gerrard in Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography.

The Napoli boss was one of many figures criticised by Sir Alex in his new book ‘My Autobiography’, as the Scot took aim at the Spaniard’s reign as Liverpool manager between 2004 and 2010.

But Benitez insists he will not be drawn on the matter as it only “adds to the publicity” that the former Manchester United boss has already received.

“The problem with answering on those comments about me – or about Steven Gerrard – is that it only adds to the publicity,” he wrote in his column for The Independent.

“All I can say is that at the time we were doing our best to defend our team and our club. We got a reaction. We did a good job. We were challenging well.

“They were good times for the club. We can let the things we did at Liverpool and the success we had make our answer for us. Beyond that, there is nothing more I think I can say.”

The 53-year-old also highlighted the players that have most impressed him in England so far this season and, unsurprisingly, chose Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as standout performers.

“Well, I have to name a player at my former club. Luis Suarez,” Benitez explained. “Everybody knows how he has a hunger for football and it has been very impressive to see the way that he is showing so soon – immediately – after coming back what a dangerous player he is.

“You will have to believe me when I say that it is not my connection with for Liverpool which makes me name Daniel Sturridge, too: a different sort of player but one who has confidence that comes with starting games.

“We have said several times already this season that strikers work off confidence and need to feel that they are an important part of the manager’s plans. These two have created the most dangerous striking partnership in the Premier League so far this season.”

Benitez also discussed Wayne Rooney’s return to form, suggesting he has benefited from the presence of Robin van Persie

“Everyone knows he has this level in his game. He is coming back and showing his level,” the Spaniard added.

“He looks like he is wanting to show things because everybody has been talking, talking about his best being in the past.

“Robin van Persie has continued scoring, even though he has been struggling with full fitness, and that helps Rooney, too. Rooney is working well around van Persie, using his understanding of the game.