By Richard Clarke
One man’s problem is another man’s opportunity.
While many would regard Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday as injury-hit and ill-timed, Arsène Wenger believes the Stamford Bridge excursion has come right on cue.
His side might be without three of their most experienced players but, make no mistake, the Frenchman is still actively pursuing the Premiership title. Having taken three points off leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Arsenal manager argues pulling off the same trick against the second place team would kick-start their long-range pursuit of England’s top prize.
"I think it is a very good circumstance for us,” said Wenger at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It is a relief for the team to qualify for the Champions League [Knockout Stage] and we responded well last week with a good win over Tottenham.
"The morale in the squad is very high and I feel we can go there and beat them.
“I want to win the Premiership and it is a good chance on Sunday to reduce the gap between us and Chelsea. It is up to us to do it.
”It is always difficult to win there but I would give everything for us to do it and go on to win the title.
”It looks crazy, but the next game is Chelsea and it is a good opportunity for us. Man United are still a long way away but we have done well in the big games until now. This is an opportunity for us to show we have the character and the quality. I trust my players to deliver something special on Sunday.”
Thierry Henry (sciatic nerve) will be out for at least another week while Kolo Toure is suspended. William Gallas (thigh) failed a fitness test on Friday morning but Johan Djourou has recovered from his hamstring strain and will take his place alongside Philippe Senderos at centre back. Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue will complete arguably the youngest backline Wenger has ever fielded in a game of this magnitude.
The manager admits that his emphasis on youth has temporarily hampered his team title ambitions. In their stead, Chelsea have scooped back-to-back Premiership crowns. The Arsenal manager acknowledges that, in the starkness of the Premiership table, Jose Mourinho’s side have stolen a march on their North London neighbour. But, he adds, Arsenal are on the rise again.
“Chelsea have become better in recent years,” he said. “It is a side that has been slowly growing and maturing. All their players are between 26 and 32 so they know how to handle big games and be efficient.
“Three or four years ago it was a young side with Lampard and Terry but they are better now. They have also had an injection of good players and they have a good manager. That has made a difference.
”You can only go with the table and think that we have regressed a little bit in comparison but we have rebuilt now and we have huge potential.
“We got to the Final of the Champions League without losing a game and we had a good run after Christmas. That is why I feel the team is ready to take off again.”
Sunday would be the perfect time for the youngsters to spread their wings.
