Arsenal vs Liverpool Preview

By Our Correspondent
for Arsenal New Today

Published: December 20, 2008

ars-v-liv1 With an unexpected but thoroughly deserved draw against Middlesbrough, we are now five points behind Manchester United, seven points behind Chelsea and eight points behind league leaders Liverpool. And it is Liverpool we play tomorrow in a game that could either keep us in the hunt this season or end our season tomorrow. With five losses already and that too against such teams as Fulham, Stoke and Hull, the situation we find ourselves in is totally our fault. At times we struggled to find our groove (against Manchester City and Villa) and at times we were defensively very poor (against Hull City and Stoke) and at times we were over confident (against Spurs). Although we have beaten both United and Chelsea this season, Liverpool will not be an easy game. And if that wasn’t worrying enough, we have these developments at the boardroom level that is bound to create some doubts and uncertanities on the players’ mind. Arsene Wenger, however, disagrees. He insisted that the boardroom won’t have any effects on the players’ performance tomorrow, as the players would be discussing ways of trapping Liverpool and gaining on the leaders. He said:

What is happening there has no impact on me,” said the manager. “I do not know really what is behind that. It is a bit like what is happening inside the dressing room – you talk as little as you can about it.

“What is important in a football club is the directors do not speak about footballing technique and that I do not speak about shares. I do not think [the changes will have an impact on the Club]. I know Nina Bracewell-Smith and she did a good job when she was on the Board. But I do not really know [why she left].”

Now, you don’t have to believe everything Wenger says. And him saying that he is not aware of the reasons behind Lady Nina’s departure is certainly not true. But you can see what the man is trying to do here. By saying that the players have not discussed the matter, he is relaying a message across that more than anything else, the team is focussed on the game tomorrow.

Wenger further said that the team knows that it is eight points behind, but it has not lost hoped and it could even surprise those who have written them off.

“Some people say it is a three-horse race but let them talk all they want. Let us show they are wrong. Last weekend when we made the draw against Middlesbrough, it was a disaster. But Chelsea drew later and so did Liverpool – and they were at home. Manchester United played a draw at Tottenham, so overall that is why our result is not as bad as you would expect it to be. We were the first to play, and were away from home as well, and were maybe the ones who deserved more than any others to win their game.”

What he said is true. When we dropped 2 points against Middlesbrough, the other three teams did the same, so it wasn’t a very bad result for us. However, what are the chances of that happening again, when all three of our main rivals drop points on the same week? Whatever one says, it was a golden opportunity for us to close the gap with our rivals.

“We are highly motivated to beat another of the so-called top four and I am convinced we have the quality to do it,” Wenger says.

With Samir Nasri back in the side for tomorrow’s game, Arsenal do look to have the ability to do it. Whatever the result, it will be one cracking game for sure.

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Arsenal vs Liverpool Preview

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