ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:Aston Villa v Arsenal. Venue: Villa Park. Kick-off: 7.45pm
ARSENE WENGER says Arsenal’s next four matches represent the most intense and meaningful period of his Premier League career but, as the team prepare to kick off the sequence at Aston Villa tonight, the manager believes that they are set fair to make a grand statement about their title-winning chances.
Arsenal will go on to play Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in a spell which has been billed as make-or-break for their prospects of a first championship since 2003-04 and, having hit form and broken down a major psychological barrier with the come-from-behind victory at Anfield last month, Wenger is bullish.
Since the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea on November 29th, his team have taken 23 points from an available 27.
“I have never known a run of four league games as significant as these,” he said. “I believe we are in a strong position [despite] having lost at Manchester City, at Manchester United and against Chelsea at home, so you cannot say it is a make-or-break because in this league, a lot can happen. But if we win these games, then we can really have a big hope. It is a great opportunity to send a message to the rest of the Premier League. We want to take it and I am very confident that we are in a good position.”
Wenger highlighted the importance of the 2-1 away win against Liverpool, when a 1-0 deficit was overhauled following some choice words from him at half-time.
“It was a massive turning point and we’ve since come from behind in many games. It shows immense mental strength to come back. Before Liverpool, we had not won the big games. Even if we felt we should have won, we didn’t and it was in the head of the players. But we did it at Liverpool, we beat Villa as well [at home, two weeks later] and we overcame something in our head.”
Wenger said “we know we can beat Villa and they know it as well, don’t worry”. The Frenchman was cheered by news from his injury list. Nicklas Bendtner is expected to return to the bench, having not played since October 31st because of groin trouble, and Wenger said this meant he would not sign a striker before the closure of the transfer window. Bendtner has scored only three goals this season but Wenger’s faith in him is total.
Samir Nasriis also expected to be named as a substitute.
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has backed Arsenal as genuine title contenders. He said: “We are capable of winning this game. But saying that Arsenal are a very fine side and have got themselves back into championship contention and are capable of winning the league.
“I haven’t seen Arsenal as being out of contention for the title. They are a fine footballing side but when they lost Robin van Persie I thought he would be a major loss.
“But they are scoring goals for fun and are an outstanding attacking side.
“What they have done has not surprised me. It is just the way they have utilised the players so well.
“After losing at Stoke City in the FA Cup last weekend I assume they will be back to their full side against us. It will be a great game and I am looking forward to it. If it is anything like the match at Villa Park last season when we should have been four up and instead found ourselves two down and fought back to make it 2-2 it will be a tremendous match.”
Villa also gave Arsenal a major test last month and the final 3-0 scoreline did flatter them somewhat.
O’Neill added: “The 3-0 defeat now doesn’t really matter. The free kick by Cesc Fabregas was obviously the main issue of the day. It was a great goal for them and it turned the game. I think anyone who watched the game would say the result was not a fair reflection of the match.”
Villa’s cause will not be helped by the fact O’Neill’s small squad, in Premier League terms, is starting to be hit by injury problems. Full-back Stephen Warnock, midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and striker John Carew are all missing through injury while influential captain Stiliyan Petrov is struggling with an Achilles problem.
Guardian Service
