Preview Everton - Arsenal

By Richard Clarke

Andrew Johnson has been a big noise in Premiership football ever since his Crystal Palace days and Arsène Wenger believes the key to victory at Goodison Park on Sunday will be keeping him quiet.

The Arsenal manager is a fan of the diminutive striker. Wenger had Johnson closely monitored while he was plying his trade in South London and, although he decided against a move, the Frenchman does believe Johnson can make a mark for his country in the years to come.

“I think Andy is a player who can help England,” said Wenger. “He is a good striker because of the timing and quality of his runs, his fantastic team ethic and the fact he never gives up.

"He can be one of the players who can compliment Wayne Rooney because Rooney is more of a second striker who can make the runs and you need another striker who can stretch the defence. Andy Johnson is one of those along with Michael Owen.

"I did consider [taking] him at one stage when he was at Crystal Palace but the price stopped it happening. There was a big fight for Johnson and you know if that happens then the price is never below £12 million or £13 million.

"But he has done very well in the Premier League as well and has given us problems.

Wenger added: “Johnson is a handful for any defence and the result on Sunday will be decided by the way we keep him quiet.”

Ironically enough, the Arsenal manager is in need of strikers at the moment. Thierry Henry’s season is over because of groin/stomach injuries while Robin van Persie (foot) will not be seen before late April if at all.

Emmanuel Adebayor sees out the last game of his suspension on Sunday and Theo Walcott is unlikely to be risked as he will have a shoulder operation on Tuesday.

It leaves Julio Baptista and Jeremie Aliadiere as the only options. Wenger admits that both players are fighting for their Arsenal future. Baptista’s loan spell is up in the summer and Aliadiere would have been sold in January, albeit reluctantly, had Van Persie not picked up his injury.

“It is an important time for both of them because they know they will get a chance to play in these games,” said the manager.

Elsewhere Emmanuel Eboue is still suspended but his countryman Kolo Toure is back from a ban. Alex Hleb returns from a knee problem and Tomas Rosicky is pushing for a start.

After a nightmare fortnight, the game at Villa Park was just the fillip Arsenal needed. Three points helped move them up to third for the first time in 2007 but the manner of victory — a backs-to-the-wall, sleeves-rolled-up 1-0 — was just as gratifying given Wenger’s side had seen their character come under scrutiny in recent weeks.

The Arsenal manager believes Chelsea are catchable in second place but, at the same time is still not secure in the fourth and final Champions League spot. Everton will present a stern examination given that they have European hopes themselves.

“They have 43 points with 10 games to go,” said Wenger. “That normally gives you a Uefa Cup ambition. They will be a good test for us.

“We need to secure a position in the top four because it is not completely done but we still hope to get in the top two as well.

Arsenal.com

Carling Cup Final :Chelsea - Arsenal

By Richard Clarke

The Carling Cup Final on Sunday will be Arsène Wenger’s most prestigious talent show ever.

For many years, the Arsenal manager has used this particular competition as his fame academy; a chance to blood unknown and untested players in a first-team environment.

In the build-up to this game the Frenchman suggested this season’s run to Cardiff was a footballing version of the X-Factor talent show. But can his fledglings really out-perform a Chelsea side with an unrivalled £-factor of their own? Jose Mourinho certainly has no intention of sending out a weakened side after all.

Sunday will see the two managers, the two teams even the two clubs singing from entirely different songsheets. But Wenger has always been happy to whistle his own tune in this tournament.

"You have singers in England going on the X-Factor show for their talents to be discovered,” said Wenger. “If they don't organise it, you don't find them.

"I like it because people are brave enough to come out and say they want to achieve something in their life. They are ready to be committed to do it. They have a target.

"I like people who turn up and are ready to fight for something, like our young players are. And this competition is the X-Factor Academy for us.

“People say never judge a team on a cup run because it depends who you play. But in this competition we have played Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham so it would be a great reward for us to win it.

“Liverpool was a tough test, Everton was a tough test and no-one can ever predict how difficult it will be against Chelsea.

"Their game is based on experience and power, ours will be based on mobility and movement. It will be very important for us to try and stop them in decisive moments in the game by taking over that physical power."

Wenger will keep faith with the side that has taken him to Cardiff. William Gallas, Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg are omitted. Jens Lehmann (suspended) and Robin van Persie (foot) would not have played either as they had not featured in the earlier rounds of the competition.

Emmanuel Eboue (foot) is likely to be out while Justin Hoyte (hamstring) and Gael Clichy (foot) were due for tests on Friday. Armand Traore will step in at left back should his fellow Frenchman not make it.

Along with Denilson, the 17-year-old defender is the discovery of this year’s run. Cesc Fabregas, Van Persie and Clichy — now first-team regulars - are among the previous recipients of this imaginary award. Top-flight starts are the point of this competition for Wenger but that does not mean Sunday’s trophy will be simply handed over to the more experienced side.

“I'm very proud of what these players have achieved this season,” he said. “We have not just won we've won with style which is our philosophy.

"But for me the biggest achievement is always the next one. What you have done in your life is not important. If you think what you have won is not as important as the next one then you are finished.

"I want to achieve what is front of me as well as I can and I really want to win this trophy on Sunday.

"It will be an unusual achievement if we do it.”

And an highly uplifting one too.

Preview PSV - Arsenal

By Richard Clarke in Eindhoven

Recollections of Real Madrid crept into Arsène Wenger’s thoughts as he looked forward to tonight’s Champions League Knockout Round first leg at PSV Eindhoven.

On Wednesday, it will be exactly a year since Arsenal’s season-altering win at the Bernabeu at the same stage of Europe’s top competition.

Twelve months ago, Wenger’s side had just been knocked out of both domestic cups and were doggedly pursuing Tottenham for fourth place in the Premiership. They overtook their neighbours on the final day of the campaign and a few days later so nearly took home the Champions League trophy from the Stade de France. The manager later identified the first game of the Knockout stage as the catalyst for change.

This year Arsenal return to Continental action after the winter hiatus in much better shape. However, football is a fragile sport. With Chelsea coming up in the Carling Cup Final on Sunday, Wenger was prepared to admit that this was a “make or break” week in the Club’s season. A pair of sound defeats would certainly burst the bubble of optimism floating over Emirates Stadium at the moment.

“It is fair to say that [it is a make-or-break week] yes,” he said. “But remember that we had the same question when we played at Real Madrid and it made our season.

“Since December I feel my team has taken off. The understanding in the squad is good and the spirit is very high.

“Now we are ready for a new challenge - like the last 16 of the Champions League.”

PSV will never match the glamour of the Galacticos but the town itself has at least tried to put on a show this week. It is festival time in this industrial Dutch city and it appears most of the inhabitants have decided to don fancy dress by way of celebration.

However their team are likely to show off rather fewer frills this evening. Ronald Koeman’s side has fashioned a compact, counter-attacking unit and their efficient style has taken them five points clear at the top of the Dutch League.

PSV will be anxiously waiting on news of Jefferson Farfan this evening. The Peruvian striker, who has hit 15 goals in 21 games this season, hurt his foot on Saturday and did not train on Monday.

For his part Wenger named an 18-man squad on the eve of the game. Justin Hoyte’s hamstring injury, coupled with Emmanuel Eboue's lingering ankle problem, means Johan Djourou or William Gallas will fill in at right back. Expect Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor to be paired up front in a 4-4-2 formation. Wenger adopted a 4-5-1 in Europe last season but the manager is expected to revert to a more attacking system tonight as he goes in search of the crucial component in last season’s Champions League run — a first leg lead.

"We will try to win,” said Wenger. “We have to try to win. Koeman will try to win aswell but in his own way. They are a team built to play counter-attacking football. They are quick so I feel they might sit off a bit and try to catch us on the break.

“In Holland you always get intelligent football with a good technical level. But we have learnt through the years that, at this stage of the competition, it is a game of 180 minutes and every minute is vital

“I know we may be a fraction the favourites. But we have enough experience to know that is only dictated by your environment, how well you prepare mentally and how you focus.”

Preview Carling Cup: Arsenal V Tottenham Hotspur

By Richard Clarke

Arsene Wenger has urged his young side to be quick off the blocks in tonight’s Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg at Emirates Stadium.

The Arsenal scholars had a bad case of exam nerves in the opening 20 minutes of the first leg at Tottenham last week. They conceded two early goals and, at one point, you feared they might be handed the sternest of lessons. However, by half time, Arsenal had steadied themselves and were beginning to ask questions of the home defence. Two goals from Julio Baptista drew them level and they might have even won the tie at the death.

It was the 11th time that Wenger’s side had trailed this season before coming back to get a result. No 12 came a few days later against Bolton in the FA Cup. No Arsenal fan would complain about a 13th successful comeback this evening — remember their team only need to avoid a defeat or a high-scoring draw to go through — however it is hardly a strategy for long-term success.

“At the Emirates we have sometimes made a hesitant start,” Wenger told Arsenal.com.

“Once we get into the game we can roll over any team and that is what we have to learn to do now.

“In the Premiership we are the team who concedes less in the second half and scores more. The numbers tell you that. But we must start better, stronger and be more focused.

“This tie is basically a match of 180 minutes and we are only at half time. You know you want to win the second 90 minutes no matter what happened in the first. The best way to be surprised tonight is not to deal with the problem mentally.

“Of course Tottenham are in the same situation. They know they cannot protect an advantage so it is not so much a first or second game this evening, it is just a game everybody will want to win.”

Wenger has vowed to replicate his selection formula at White Hart Lane. The starting XI will be the usual mix of young players, first-team squad players along with a couple of regulars. However the bench will be smothered with experienced players. They are the manager’s insurance policy.

The major omission from the first leg is Julio Baptista, who injured his groin against Bolton on Sunday. However Gilberto is back after a ban and will come straight in to the side. Otherwise, broadly speaking, it is ‘as you were’ from the first leg. Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue came off the bench to have a huge influence on the Arsenal fightback a week ago. Unfortunately they picked up injuries in the process. As a result Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Adebayor have been drafted into the squad this evening. In addition Gael Clichy replaces Mark Randall.

Wenger made no apologies for sticking with his ‘Young Guns’.

“It is part of the learning process,” he said. “You know once you are a player at Arsenal Football Club only the best will be expected of you. That is why it is very interesting to continue to play and deal with the pressure.

“At White Hart Lane we had to deal with being 2-0 down. But the team stuck to their game and did it well. They will have to do it again this evening.”

* If the scores are level tonight after 90 minutes, two periods of 15 minutes extra time will be played. If the scores are still level after this extra half-hour, whoever has scored the most goals away from home will progress. If the teams still can’t be separated, there will be a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner.

Preview FA Cup:Arsenal-Bolton Wanderers

By Richard Clarke

It is hard to remember three such strenuous tests of Arsenal’s character in the space of just eight days.

Having produced two-goal comebacks against their traditional title rivals, Manchester United, and their traditional local rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsène Wenger will be hoping there will be no such heroics necessary for the visit of their traditional bogey team on Sunday.

Arsenal have won just two of their last 10 games against Bolton Wanderers. They lost the Premiership match at the Reebok Stadium on November 25 and were knocked out of the FA Cup in a Fourth Round tie at the same venue last season.

On Sunday it will be exactly a year since that defeat. And Wenger wants this Fourth Round clash to show the extent to which his young side have grown up — mentally and physically.

“Bolton are always a good character test,” he smiled at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “But they are a good side aswell. People sometimes forget that.

“OK they might have minimal resources but they have Nicolas Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf. They are not minimal resources players for me. This team can play.

“You can not say that Gary Speed is not a football player. Nor Ivan Campo or Kevin Nolan. They are good football players. Chelsea wanted Tal Ben Haim. It is not just because he can kick the ball, it is because he is a good defender. That is why they are a team who get results.”

Wenger has six players injured: William Gallas (thigh), Alex Hleb (hamstring), Robin Van Persie (foot), Emmanuel Eboue (ankle), Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) and Johan Djourou (hamstring). In addition, Gilberto will be seeing out the final game of his suspension.

The Arsenal manager has already stated that his FA Cup side this year would be similar to his Premiership side. That means few of the ‘Carling Cup kids’ will be used. Ironically the only one of the squad players employed at Tottenham certain to retain his place is Manuel Almunia. The 29-year-old was the oldest Arsenal player on show at White Hart Lane. However Thierry Henry is likely to be involved.

“Well I have 14 players available in the next two games so the choice is quite reduced,” said Wenger. “But the advantage is I have no decision to make. I think Thierry will play but Jens is out just to rest him.”

If anyone is likely to bring Arsenal down with a bump it is Bolton. Understandably they have revelled in the success their grit and guts has achieved over Wenger’s guile and style. However the manager believes his side now possesses much greater substance these days.

“I have felt we have not had the best of games when we go up there to Bolton,” remarked the manager. “Saying that we were a bit unlucky this year, Anelka scored two sensational goals and we had the best part of the game.

“Maybe one or two years ago we were not ready to face this type of opponent. But we are now. I feel the team has improved a lot on that side recently.”

Sitting the Bolton examination on Sunday will tell us just how much..

Arsenal.com

Preview Carling Cup: Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

By Richard Clarke

So far Arsenal’s Carling Cup campaign has been all about education, education, education.

Arsène Wenger’s young side have been to West Brom, Everton and Liverpool, each time coming back with their reputation enhanced. Yet although those can be considered taxing tutorials they pale in comparison to the examination confronting the ‘Young Guns’ this evening.

White Hart Lane is the most unlikely finishing school for anyone sporting the red and white of Arsenal. It may be ‘only’ the Carling Cup — reportedly fourth out of four in Wenger’s list of priorities — however this Semi-Final first leg will be played with the passion and pace of any North London derby. Despite all that Wenger can see the benefits.

“Frankly I would have liked an easier run of games to the Semi-Final,” said the manager. “But there is nothing like a tough education in life.

“When you are a parent you want your children to have a little less of a tough education and something a bit more soft. But at the end of the day if they get through it then you know they are equipped for the demands of playing at a club like Arsenal.”

The youngsters are not only equipped, Wenger argues their quality is actually pushing the first team to greater heights.

“I made a decision at the start of the Carling Cup that, because we have such a young squad, I needed to know about them,” he said.

“I could not waste a year with players who did not get top-level competition. To give them an education I needed to choose one trophy and play them in there. I did that in the Carling Cup.

“At the moment this team pushes so hard that you can see it has an effect in the first team. They know the competition is just so hard.”

Wenger has bolstered his squad this evening with a number of first-teamers. Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Alex Hleb and Justin Hoyte all have more than 10 Premiership starts this season. However Denilson, Mark Randall, Armand Traore and Theo Walcott certainly represent the future of the Club. Meanwhile Abou Diaby, only 20 himself, is likely to start after nine months out with a broken and dislocated ankle.

“This is not only a Semi-Final, it is London derby and against Tottenham,” said Wenger. “That shows you the task will be very big. I am confident that not only they can do it but they really want to do it.

“When you can win at Everton and Liverpool you can win anywhere in England or in Europe. I was not surprised by the quality of their play at Anfield but perhaps I was by the score. I did not expect six goals.

“Of course this will be a different game with a different problem and we have to find the solution. We certainly want to score away from home tonight. Basically we went out at the Semi Final stage last year because we did not get a goal in the first leg at their ground.

“Overall I feel our young players are making progress. In the last four years our strength has become deeper and our young players have become better.

“But, in our job, talent is one thing then you have to show it on the pitch with no inhibitions. If you want to be an Arsenal player you need to do that.”

Let the lesson begin.

Preview Arsenal - ManU

By Richard Clarke

"In our mind it's a game that we want absolutely to win, I tell you," said Arsène Wenger with a steely stare at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"We love to win, we want to reduce the gap to Manchester United as quickly as possible and we want to continue our run because we're in good form. We're still involved in nearly every competition, even the championship, and you never know what can happen."

If Premiership fixtures between Arsenal and Manchester United have lost some of their intensity in recent years then it appears that no one as told this particular Frenchman.

It is now two-and-a-half seasons since either of these two pillars of the Premiership have taken the title. In the intervening years Chelsea have dominated domestic honours and even Liverpool have scooped Europe’s top prize.

Despite his opening salvo, Wenger did admit this particular fixture is not quite the be-all and end-all it used to be.

"I feel the fact that Chelsea came in took a little bit of the focus off Arsenal and Manchester United," said Wenger. "Before the last two years a game between Manchester United and Arsenal was a game nobody could afford to lose.

"Now even if you lose one there is still Chelsea there and then Liverpool joined in so there is less focus only on Manchester United and Arsenal."

You only have to look back to the first game between these sides this season for an illustration. Arsenal went to Old Trafford in September without Thierry Henry, any decent form and, it would seem, much chance of victory.

They pulled off a wonderful 1-0 win but it was Manchester United who kicked-on after that. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side flourished despite losing a must-win game and Wenger's men have had to play catch-up.

Arsenal’s ankle injuries are likely to have healed by Sunday — Emmanuel Eboue is certainly back, Robin van Persie should follow suit after a test on Saturday. However Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) and William Gallas (thigh) are still out while Gilberto is suspended.

Throughout his media work on Friday, Wenger skirted the issue of the title race. It was like he wanted to suggest a victory on Sunday could open a fissure in the rockface of United’s lead but, ever the economist, the Arsenal manager knew the figure of 15 points was set in stone.

Twice he was asked who would win the title, each time he replied: "I have an idea in my head but if I give you my idea you won’t believe me."

"I cannot say we will," he added later, "because we are 15 points behind Manchester United. But I think we have the ingredients and potential to become the best team.

"At the moment we are not because we cannot deny we lost at Sheffield United, Bolton, Manchester City. Even if they are games we could and should have won.

"But this is a good opportunity for us to close the gap a little bit. They've had the advantage of having stability and players in form at the right moment, but it's still not over. Don't forget they must go to Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Portsmouth. They have a difficult schedule."

On Sunday we’ll find out if those traditionally tough trips to Arsenal are still the most arduous for Manchester United.

Arsenal.com

3rd Macth : Preview Liverpool Vs Arsenal

Arsène Wenger has named his 16-man squad for tonight's Carling Cup tie against Liverpool.

As revealed by Arsenal.com yesterday, Abou Diaby is the notable inclusion. The French midfielder is in line for his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt since fracturing and dislocating his ankle at Sunderland last May.

Cesc Fabregas is back after serving a suspension during Saturday's FA Cup win at Anfield while Kolo Toure and Johan Djourou look set to start in central defence.

Wenger has opted for a blend of internationals and inexperienced youngsters. That second category includes Henri Lansbury, yet to feature for the first team.

Mark Randall and Armand Traore are included after featuring in the Carling Cup victories at West Brom and Everton this season while Matthew Connolly is back from his loan spell at Bournemouth.

2. Abou Diaby
4. Francesc Fabregas
5. Kolo Toure
9. Julio Baptista
15. Denilson
17. Alex Song
20. Johan Djourou
21. Mart Poom
24. Manuel Almunia
30. Jeremie Aliadiere
31. Justin Hoyte
32. Theo Walcott
33. Matthew Connolly
40. Henri Lansbury
43. Mark Randall
45. Armand Traore

Arsène Wenger will perform a familiar balancing act when he takes his Arsenal side back up to Anfield for their second Cup tie in four days against Liverpool.

The Arsenal manager has traditionally used the Carling Cup as a vehicle to develop young players but his starting line-up will include a liberal sprinkling of experience as the Frenchman plots another knockout blow on Merseyside.

"We always adjust to the difficulty we face and I feel we are always in between two problems," Wenger told Arsenal.com.

"One is to reward the players who have fought through until now, and the other is to make the team good enough to have a chance to win the game. It is always about finding the right balance because some players have done extremely well in this competition, they have shown a lot of desire.

"Liverpool is a tough opponent so I have to find the right balance and that's why I will approximately rebuild the team but as well some players who are coming back from injury will have a chance to play. For me I have 20 outfield players of the same level and 10 of them will play."

The most notable inclusion in Wenger's squad is Abou Diaby. The French midfielder has not played since suffering a fractured and dislocated ankle at Sunderland last May but he completed his first full training session five days ago and is in contention for a welcome return.

This time last week Arsenal had 10 first-team players on the injured list. Seven days later only Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) is still struggling although Emmanuel Adebayor, William Gallas (both thigh) and Lauren (toe) will be given more time to regain full fitness. Theo Walcott and Julio Baptista, both of whom returned from injury with substitute appearances on Saturday, could start tonight.

Wenger's squad is certainly in far ruder health than it was when this game was abandoned due to fog on December 19. Confidence is also high after that FA Cup triumph at Anfield three days ago. Merseyside has been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal this season - they won at Everton in the previous round of this competition. And victory tonight will set up another mouthwatering tie against North London rivals Tottenham.

"We should gain confidence for difficult trips because we have shown we can handle that at West Brom and Everton," said Wenger. "Especially the Everton game, I feel the team played without any fear and I hope we can repeat that kind of performance.

"Playing Tottenham in the Semi-Finals is a huge incentive for us and of course having played Liverpool in the FA Cup we will go up there again with the same desire. The target is to beat Liverpool twice. Going into the Semi-Finals of the Carling Cup is a great motivation for us and we will try to do it.

"I just hope it's not foggy again!"