Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has given cautious backing to the Premier League's plan to play an extra 10 games abroad. The proposal to play a 39th league match in five cities overseas on one weekend from 2011 has drawn a barrage of criticism from within the game, not least from Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president.

But Wenger insists the idea should be investigated properly before being written off.

"There's two things I like about it," Wenger said. "First there is a desire to innovate and be the strongest league in the world and the second thing is to do something for the fans abroad."

Wenger experienced a similar plan when managing in Japan. He also cited the recent success of an NFL match at Wembley and said that people have been too quick to dismiss the idea.

"When I came to Japan in 1995 we had to play 20 per cent of our games at a neutral ground," he added. "At the start I thought it was completely crazy, but it worked tremendously well and games were sold out everywhere we played.

"Just look back, for example, at Wembley and everyone celebrated the Americans playing an American Football game at Wembley. It was exactly the same idea. It's nothing different, which is why it is too early to speak against it."

Meanwhile, Wenger claims his injury hit Arsenal squad is down to the 'bare bones' ahead of the FA Cup fifth-round clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Wenger will make a late decision on his starting line-up but was only able to name 14 players for the trip north following injuries to a host of key players.

The Arsenal manager will definitely without Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Bacary Sagna and Denilson, but rejected claims he was fielding a weakened team ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with AC Milan.

"It is a priority (this game) because it is the next game and we want to keep our good run going and we want to try to win the trophy," Wenger said. "I am down to the bare bones of just 14 players so everybody travels.

"It will be a late decision tomorrow morning to see who I may give a breather to. So, tonight I will check the medical people."

Wenger said he was doubtful about the fitness of defenders Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos, striker Emmanuel Adebayor and midfielder Matthieu Flamini with various "joint and muscle" problems. He also confirmed Jens Lehmann, who has taken the place of Manuel Almunia in FA Cup games, would continue in goal.

Arsenal lead the Premier League by five points and have lost just once in their last 16 outings, a League Cup defeat at Tottenham last month. Wenger's team is also unbeaten in their last three meetings with United.

"We have a tricky week with Milan on Wednesday and then Birmingham on Saturday, plus Manchester United and we want to win this game - so I will pick my strongest possible side," he said.

"There are only six Premier League teams left in the competition, so the winner tomorrow has certainly a big chance to win the trophy. It could be a decider for one of these teams to go through to the final."

Wenger also denied that Arsenal have opened negotiations over a new contract for Cesc Farbregas.

The Spain midfielder, who is under contract with Arsenal until 2014, was quoted as saying yesterday that the club has sought talks over fresh terms. But Wenger insists Fabregas was simply voicing his commitment to the club in response to speculation over renewed interest from his home town club Barcelona.

“At the moment there are no talks. What he wanted to say is that he is committed to the future here,” he said. “He was interviewed by Spanish radio and that’s all he wanted to say.”