EPL ~ Wenger: Kop too scared to land the title
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ARSENAL NEWS
Wenger: We won't give up on title challenge!
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Channel 27: "Live"Arsene Wenger insists his side will return to the Emirates Stadium to face Premier League pace-setters Liverpool next week with a strong chance of forcing their way back into the title race.
On a day when both Rafael Benitez's men and Manchester United both dropped points, Wenger said his side's hard-earned 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium was ''not disastrous''.
And despite fluctuating recent form, Wenger believes his side have shown signs they have got their season back on track after a poor start which threatened to effectively end their campaign before Christmas.
Wenger said: ''We will keep our focus and try to win the next game and try not to think about it. We must just believe that the next game is one to reduce the distance between us and Liverpool.
''The league is wide open but we are in a position that every point we drop we are asked about it. I understand that, but champions are people who never stop and we can show that belief to keep going.''
But Boro's gutsy performance exposed familiar frailties in a Gunners line-up in which striker Emmanuel Adebayor was a class apart from his young and occasionally lightweight-looking team-mates.
''There was room for us to take the three points but they fought very hard. In the end we were 1-0 and unlucky on the goal we conceded and after that we had two or three more chances to score and we didn't do it,'' Wenger added.
The result proved much more pleasing for Boro boss Gareth Southgate who was forced to rush Chris Riggott and Robert Huth back from injury due to the suspension of the talismanic David Wheater.
His side bustled with energy and intent from the kick-off and their urgency was encapsulated by a fine performance from youngster Tony McMahon in his first Boro game for two years after suffering two broken legs.
Southgate said: ''Tony was fantastic. It's been a real long haul for him and we've sent him out on loan to get him matches. He needed those games under his belt and he's given an outstanding display.''
''We're relatively pleased with the account we've given of ourselves. We needed to pick up some points. It's been a tough run for us but we've given a very good display and that's the most pleasing thing.''
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come on wenger! beat liverpool =)
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yayayayayayayayayaya
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i will love arsenal if they can beat liverpool cos at least can shut one idiot up
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arsenal bt liverpool, then what? arsenal still wont be able to win premiership title
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it'll be ironic if they beat all the top 3 teams but finish fifth.
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ARSENAL NEWS
Adebayor wants revenge over Liverpool this weekend
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR wants revenge over Liverpool this weekend for dumping Arsenal out of the Champions League last season.
Gunners’ 11-goal striker said: “For sure, they broke our dreams. But what they have done they have done. That happened last season.
“The most important thing is what we want to achieve now. All the people will be talking about it and that will make it a big game for everybody.
“We all know how important this is for the club so we will just try to keep our dreams alive.
“For Arsenal the most important thing is to keep positive.”
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Say that to Steven Gerrard,Mr Adebayor.
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Just remember not to score too early.
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watching arsenal play this season is no longer pleasing.
1.they lack the muscle to win games.
2.they lack the wing play. what left lack speed, less walcott.
3. they lack enthusiastic. when playing those lesser team, they seem unmotivated and fail to shift to a high tempo games.
even if arsenal beat liverpool, they cannot win the leagues.
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remember when ajax dominated europe with youngsters, they have a much balance team.
In midfield they have seedorf and davids that run until their lungs drop!
litmanen to provide the goals need from midfield.
overmars to make penetrative runs andability to score goals.
arsenal, sad to say, lack the key ingredients of a winning team.
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Cesc Fabregas not worried about Rio Ferdinand's opinion
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has knocked back suggestions by Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand that the London club are all-but-out of the Premier League title race.
Not giving up yet: Cesc Fabregas thinks Arsenal can still win the Premier League title as a week is a long time in football.
Speaking to Sky Sports Fabregas said: "With all the experience they [Manchester United] have, they should know more than anyone that football can change in one week, two weeks.
"It is a massive game against Liverpool, it is vital. It can be a massive change in the table. "If we win we know that we can come back to five points which is not a lot. We know five points is nothing."
Although Ferdinand, who is Japan with Manchester United for the Fifa World Club Cup, admitted there was still a possibility that Arsene Wenger's side could land the title, the England defender feels it is very unlikely given their current position eight points behind Liverpool at the top of the table.
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor backed up his captain, saying: "It is better if Rio say 'we will try to do everything to win it'. "We know we are eight points behind and we have a chance to play them and close the gap. "We have to keep focused. It is going to be an important game and I don't have to say too much about it.
"The motivation will come from within ourselves. We need to show good character and a good personality to win the game."
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I think losing Flamini and Hleb were the biggest setback for them in recent years... After years there growing up and finally getting it right in the premiership, they were sold.
Flamini last season was my player of the season for them... He was doing all the running from Aug all the way till the end... Such players are important as when the team is not doing well, his energetic runs could still inspire the team. Fabregas in my opinion is a little over rated. Last season he disappear from Feb to Apr, his performance wasn't just average, it was very poor. And this season so far, he has not done that much either...
Losing Hleb also is rather disappointing... Last season you could expect them attacking from the wing more often but this season, not much especially when Walcott is out now.
Biggest disappointment must be Robin Van Persie, 3 to 5 yrs ago he shown that he has the potential to be one of the top players in the world... He was even better than Ronaldo then. Many non-Arsenal fans actually liked him, like myself... I thought he scores great goals. But so much time spent in the treatment room seems to have taken all that away. Now at 25, he can no longer be consider a young potential player anymore, if anything, his football career is halfway over... That's why i feel he is Wenger's biggest disappointment considering the talent and skilled he have or had...
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so what if arsenal wins this game? who dare to say that they wont lose to another lowly club once again?
the same goes for liverpool.... -
Originally posted by limpper:
so what if arsenal wins this game? who dare to say that they wont lose to another lowly club once again?
the same goes for liverpool....
Well, for one if Arsenal do beat Pool... I guess Chelsea and United fans would be happy... Chelsea will go back to the top while United would be 6 points behind but with 2 games in hand. Is that good enough? lolWho cares if Arsenal cannot beat another lowly club... I bet the Blues and the Devils fans will lose any sleep should if happens... lol
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CONFIDENT ... Pepe Reina
PEPE REINA believes Liverpool will end their Emirates hoodoo on Sunday. The Reds have yet to win in their three visits to Arsenal's new stadium. But Reina is confident the Premier League leaders will come away with three points against their title rivals.
The Spanish keeper said: "We don't have that many great memories from our other visits to the Emirates. "They played very well and we weren't in our best moment. "This time I think it is different because we are top of the table and I think it is easier to play when you are up there.
"We've never won there before, so maybe it's the right time to do it. "It is possible for us to win on any ground. But we have to respect them a lot and play to win, like we always do.
"We have already won at Stamford Bridge, so we're confident we can now go to the Emirates and win there too."
The Gunners are well off the pace in the title race after a sloppy start to the season. But Reina has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Arsene Wenger's side. He added: "Arsenal have great players and a good squad. "They are able to do great things. They beat Manchester United at home and also won at Stamford Bridge, so we know it will be a really tough game.
"They probably do save their best for the big teams. The way they play their football probably makes it easier for them to take on the top sides, because they allow them to play their brand of football. "Against more physical teams they have struggled a little bit because of that."
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Somebody tell Reina dun be too Proud of his team la No Torres No Win they onli gt Gerrard and worthless Keane nia
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Rafa in, Torres out of Emirates Epic
Liverpool will definitely be without Fernando Torres for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal, but they will have their leader Rafa Benitez on the touchline.
Benitez has been in hospital this week due to kidney stones, and there had been fears that he would not be well enough to travel to North London this weekend.
Last season the Spaniard masterminded two 1-1 draws at Emirates Stadium, one of which was crucial to their Champions League progression, and assistant Sammy Lee revealed Benitez will be healthy enough to bark out the orders on Sunday.
"He's a lot better. He wasn't very good at the start of the week but slowly but surely he's got better and he'll be okay for the game,” Lee told the club’s official website.
The news is less positive for Torres though, who is still suffering from hamstring problems.
Torres is back in training but, after several recent breakdowns, the club are being extra careful with him.
"He won't be fit for the weekend, no," said Lee. "He's back in training and running. We are trying to make sure he's right and 100 per cent for when he does come back."
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Originally posted by Scania N113CRB l0v3r:
Somebody tell Reina dun be too Proud of his team la No Torres No Win they onli gt Gerrard and worthless Keane nia
Don't worry, they still got the goal machine...
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we beat Man utd w/o torres right... who's to say that we can't do it again?
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i believe liverpool have the edge, even without torres.
arsenal are in a mess.
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Originally posted by reyes:
watching arsenal play this season is no longer pleasing.
1.they lack the muscle to win games.
2.they lack the wing play. what left lack speed, less walcott.
3. they lack enthusiastic. when playing those lesser team, they seem unmotivated and fail to shift to a high tempo games.
even if arsenal beat liverpool, they cannot win the leagues.
and not forgetting P. Kluivert& Kanu.. they're probably playing their best football during that year...
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Originally posted by dragg:
i believe liverpool have the edge, even without torres.
arsenal are in a mess.
should be and hopefully a good match in making
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Originally posted by zocoss:
Don't worry, they still got the goal machine...
lolx