'We didn’t do enough in the second half' - Arsene Wenger

On a disappointing result…
We were 2-1 up and playing against ten men and we dropped two points. Overall, it was a difficult game with high levels of commitment from Wigan. They caught us a bit at the start and after that we came back into it a little bit. In the second half we didn’t do enough and we conceded two goals from two set pieces.

On a stubborn Wigan side…
Credit to them, they didn’t give up. I thought we tried very hard. The pitch became more and more difficult for us to put passes together. They defended deeper in the second half and it was more difficult for us to find space. Wigan fought very hard today. I felt in the first half we had a great dominance and came back well but in the second half we didn’t produce enough or offer enough.

On making eight changes for the game…
We had a disadvantage that Wigan played three days ago and only 48 hours ago we played a big game in the evening. I had to change it because we play on Saturday and again on Wednesday so we can't always play with the same team. But I don’t think that was a problem at all.

On an open Premier League title race...
Last night Manchester United drew 1-1 with Birmingham, we drew 2-2 today so we will know at the end of the season. It was a difficult game, you always felt that any mistake at the back and we could pay for it. As long as we didn't score the third goal in this kind of game it can end 2-2.

Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal - Match Report

Arsenal dropped two crucial points on Wednesday night by drawing 2-2 at 10-man Wigan.

Arsène Wenger’s side went behind from a hotly debatable 17th-minute penalty but still lead at the break thanks to late brace. Andrey Arshavin scored the first and made the second for Nicklas Bendtner.

The visitors seemed to have control in the second half. And their cause was helped when Wigan’s best player on the night, Charles N’Zogbia, was sent off for apparently headbutting Jack Wilshere.

The game was digesting the dismissal when, 10 minutes from time, Sebastien Squillaci headed into his own net as he attempted to stop Gary Caldwell scoring.

After beating Chelsea so wonderfully on Monday this was a big blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.

But they reach the midway point of the season with 36 points from 19 games – two points off leaders Manchester United.
This was a disappointing night but Arsenal are still very much in the title race.

Wenger retained only three players from Monday’s starting line-up. They were Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny.

The Frenchman clearly had the next two games – Birmingham away and Manchester City at home – in mind. He was managing his resources.

The following players came in: Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Squillaci, Arshavin, Emmanuel Eboue, Marouane Chamakh and Bendtner.

Robin van Persie and Alex Song were left out entirely. Cesc Fabregas was suspended. The rest of Monday’s side was on the bench.

It was a bit of a gamble given Arsenal had gained so much momentum from the win over Chelsea. But this is arguably the most intense time of the season so Wenger rolled the dice.

For a time, it appeared he had lost.

The first 10 minutes were fast, frenetic and dominated by Wigan. N’Zogbia skipped past Eboue on the left hand side to reach the byline. However, his cross was misdirected. Then Hugo Rodallega drifted off Koscielny at the far post but failed to connect with his header.

The Frenchman got some sort of revenge when he stopped the striker in his tracks after Squillaci had been beaten.

Arshavin prodded an effort over the bar but N’Zogbia tested Fabianski from distance. The visitors were under pressure.

However, as time wore on, Arsenal gained control. Bendtner’s goalbound free-kick hit Squillaci in the wall and Eboue’s cross found Arshavin at the far post but the Russian’s volley was blocked.

So, the opener, when it arrived in the 17th minute was slightly against the run of play – and very controversial.

N’Zogbia danced inside Diaby in the right-hand channel and though Koscielny flicked out a foot he was withdrawing it by the time the midfielder went past him. Replays cast doubt there was contact but referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot.

Ben Watson converted the penalty with aplomb.

In fact, Wigan would have stronger claims for a spot-kick shortly afterwards when Fabianski took out Rodallega. Arsenal were saved because Koscielny, the covering defender, had prodded the ball well clear.

Midway through the half, Ali Al Habsi spilled Rosicky’s piledriver and only a perfectly-timed challenge from Caldwell stopped Koscielny stabbing home from close range.

Shortly after that Diaby limped off and Wilshere replaced him. Though the change was not planned it added an urgency and energy to Arsenal’s game.

By half time, they were in the lead.

Seven minutes from the whistle, Chamakh flicked Bendtner into space on the right. The Dane’s drive was shoveled out to Arshavin by Al Habsi. It was a difficult height for the diminutive Russian but he waited for the ball to fall and hooked his shot into the corner.

Arshavin had been quiet until that moment but suddenly he was at the hub of the Arsenal attack. Two minutes before the whistle he fashioned their second by driving at the Wigan defence and prodding a ball through to Bendtner.

The striker bundled home his fourth goal of the season.

The brace gave Arsenal a cushion they would enjoy at the start of the second half. The visitors were happy to keep the ball and invite Wigan on. For the first time in the game, the hosts had to bring the game to Arsenal.

It meant that the chances dried up. Wilshere burst into the area and Sagna’s right-wing cross was headed into his own sidenetting by Antolin Alcaraz.

Just before the hour, Cleverley latched on to the full back’s clearance and fired over. But Wigan seemed to be running out of ideas.

And, in the 70th minute, Arsenal might have killed the game. Arshavin timed his run perfectly to collect Wilshere’s clip into the area. However, the Russian could not lift his shot over Al Habsi.

But as the visitors started to look further forward, so Wigan had space to create – and they nearly profited.

In the 75th minute, substitute James McArthur sent N’Zogbia clear and his drive was batted away by Fabianski from point-blank range.

It would be the last meaningful act of the midfielder’s game. Two minutes later he appeared to headbutt Wilshere and was sent off.

Sometimes late dismissals kill off the chasing team, this one did not.

In the 80th minute, Watson’s deep corner was headed back into the area by Rodallega and Squillaci, in trying the prevent Caldwell from scoring, nodded the ball into his own net.

Wenger threw on Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri immediately.

Four minutes from time, the Frenchman’s free-kick hit a flailing Wigan arm in the wall but referee Probert waved play on.

Arsenal pressed and pressed in the dying minutes but the winner would not come.
This was certainly two points dropped but it has not done terminal damage to Wenger's title aspirations.

Belief was magic ingredient - Cesc

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas claimed belief was the key reason behind his side's
3-1 defeat of Premier League title rivals Chelsea on Monday.

The Spaniard scored one and made another as the Gunners put the out-of-form
champions to the sword at the Emirates Stadium, just two weeks after they had
disappointed against Manchester United.

"Belief was the difference," Fabregas told Sky Sports 1. "The difference 
between a good team and a great team is very little. We did what a great team does. 
We were fantastic.

"The league is so tight. Anyone can win it. We will try to do our best."

Another goalscorer, Theo Walcott, said he had not thought of Chelsea's recent
dominance of his side, adding: "We didn't think about the past. We can't change that. We concentrated on pressing. Everyone was pressing. We didn't give Chelsea any space at all.

"We got the win but another game is just around the corner.

"Everything went well. We made Chelsea look average at times. We played some great football and wanted to do it for the fans because in recent years against Chelsea we've been disappointing."


Arsenal 3 - 1 Chelsea - Match Report

Arsenal WILL fight for the Premier League title this season.

That was the resounding message Arsène Wenger’s team sent out with a heartening 3-1 win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

The three points restores them to second place behind Manchester United – but this victory was worth much more than that.

Having lost at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, the critics suggested Arsenal’s campaign would be undermined by familiar weaknesses. One of which was a failure to beat their main title rivals.

However, make no mistake, this evening they fully deserved to beat the reigning champions.

Alex Song bundled through to blast home the opener on the stroke of half time. Then, just after the restart, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott set up goals for one another inside three mad minutes.

Branislav Ivanovic nodded Chelsea back in touch just before the hour and then Carlo Ancelotti’s side kicked on in search of something more.

But this evening, the likes of Song, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou put in performances of controlled muscularity. Lukasz Fabianski was barely tested in the final half-hour.

This result does not answer all the questions about Arsenal this season. But the trip to Wigan is the midway point of the Premier League campaign and should Wenger’s men win there they will be, at the very least, within a victory of top spot.

No-one knows if Arsenal will win the title but they have put themselves in position to have a chance.

It had been a full fortnight since that disappointing 1-0 defeat at Manchester United and this game had been built up as another season-shaper.

Wenger made five changes, including a couple of surprises. Djourou came in for his first Premier League start since the 2-1 win at Everton on November 14. Sebastien Squillaci dropped the bench. He was joined there by Marouane Chamakh, who was replaced by Robin van Persie. The Dutchman was starting his first Premier League game in four months.

Elsewhere, Fabianski was back in goal after a hip injury. Fabregas and Walcott were on from the beginning having been on the bench at Manchester United.

Perhaps it was the fact that the rest of the Premier League had played a day earlier, perhaps it was Manchester United’s upturn in form, but this game felt simply massive.

Both sides had something to prove. Arsenal needed to show they could beat a recent title-winner (and ended a run of five-straight defeats against the Stamford Bridge side). Chelsea needed to show they were over a damaging dip in form.

It was night when the result was all-important. The performance was secondary.

But then the opening 15 minutes were too frenetic for decent football anyway.

Chelsea fashioned the best chance – when Koscielny gave the ball away in midfield and Drogba drove wide – but Arsenal were always looking to play on the front foot.

And, just before the Ivorian’s effort, Song chipped the ball to the far post but Van Persie miscued his volley from close range with Ivanovic in close attendance.

It was a speedy, spicy affair – everything you’d expect from two London rivals fighting for the title.

Van Persie had a strong shout for a penalty when Florent Malouda buffeted him off the ball on the edge of the area. A couple of minutes later, Nasri’s fierce free-kick was plucked out of the air by Petr Cech.

As the half went on, Arsenal started to exert some sustained pressure. Fabregas tried to dance through the middle, Van Persie blasted over from an acute angle, Walcott waltzed himself some space on the byline and Bacary Sagna’s rocket shot hit Drogba.

It was worthwhile football from Arsenal but Chelsea’s defence was at its rigid best. The only time Cech was extended was when he tipped over from Nasri’s delicious chip.

Still, Arsenal had done enough to deserve their lead when it came a minute before the half-time whistle.

Song exchanged passes with Wilshere on the edge of the box and darted into the area to get the return. He eventually received it and clipped the ball home. The slight delay came because Paulo Ferreira  brought down Fabregas as he tried to intercept.

Had the Cameroonian not scored surely Arsenal would have won a penalty.

Malouda’s late effort was cleared off the line as Chelsea tried to regain parity immediately. But it was too little too late from the visitors in the first half.

Arsenal had been the better side in the opening period and, in the first seven minutes of the second, they would seize control by scoring twice.

Walcott and Fabregas set up the strikes for the other but, in reality, the Chelsea midfield was at fault each time.

In the 50th minute, Michael Essien was worried into a loose back-pass by Van Persie. Walcott raced clear, drew Cech and tapped a square pass for Fabregas to slot home.

Three minutes later, Walcott stole the ball off Malouda’s toe and found Fabregas in midfield. The England winger went sprinting clear, collected the Spaniard's pass and fired into the far corner. It was his ninth goal of the season in only his eighth start.

Emirates was riotous. The home crowd felt a weight lifting off their shoulders as, finally, Arsenal’s title colours could be firmly nailed to the mast.

But, football is never so simple. Four minutes later, Fabregas fouled Essien on the left and Drogba’s free-kick was guided past Fabianski by the head of Ivanovic.

The goal changed the game in an instant.

Suddenly Chelsea were the aggressor. Arsenal had thrown away a two-goal lead against Tottenham just over a month before. Surely they could not go one better against the West London side?

Ancelotti’s men were going for it and they pressed back Arsenal. But that did mean Walcott’s pace was now a massive factor when the home side broke out.

Midway through the half, Song found the Englishman in space and his raking cross-field pass reached Nasri on the left of the area. The Frenchman tried to nudge the ball past Cech but the keeper thrust out his hand.

Wenger brought on Abou Diaby and Chamakh for Van Persie and Walcott. There was a sense the manager was trying to ‘see out’ the game. But, in fact, Diaby might have won it.

Ten minutes from time, he found a glimpse of space in the area but dallied too long and his chance was lost.

Chelsea’s expected onslaught did not really arrive late on. Yes, Salomon Kalou bundled the ball home in tine final minute but he was clearly offside and Tomas Rosicky hit the past with the last action of the game. He too had been flagged.

It did not matter. Arsenal had what they wanted - three points and the opportunity to call themselves title-contenders.

Their fate is now firmly in their own hands.

Arsenal Vs Chelsea - Match Preview

"Life is there for change,” mused Arsène Wenger at the end of his press conference. “Life is there for movement."

How Arsenal need a bit of movement in their recent results against Chelsea.

Look away now if you are of a nervous disposition. Here come the stats.

Chelsea have won their last five games against Arsenal. In fact Manchester United and Chelsea have triumphed in 14 of their last 18 against Wenger’s men. Didier Drogba has played against the Emirates Stadium side 13 times – winning ten, drawing three and scoring 13 times.

It is a millstone of a record that looms large over their build up every time Arsenal take on one of their major title challengers. And these miserable numbers were trotted out again before Chelsea’s visit to Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

It was the same sort of thing a fortnight earlier when Wenger’s men travelled to Old Trafford – and the result was all too familiar. But that does not mean the dynamic of the Big Three has stayed the same.

While they have their frailties, Arsenal are certainly stronger and older this season than in previous years. The Frenchman argues that time is working on his side. As Wenger philosophised in his opening line, everything changes… always. Maturity eventually turns into plain old age and is replaced the youth of yesterday.

Arsenal fans simply can’t wait for that shift to occur.

“I believe that my players are quite solid mentally,” said the manager. “But they have not won yet and that is a mental hurdle everyone in life has to get over.

“One day you want to win and you show that you can win. But for that you need to be tough. That makes you even stronger but you still need to believe.

“Remember I've seen the Frank Lampards and Rio Ferdinands at 20 with West Ham,” he went on. “They went down to the second tier.

“Do not forget these Arsenal players at 20 went to the semi-final of the Champions League, the final some of them. So they have the mental strength.

“We have had an opportunity to win the title in recent years and, OK, we didn't win it. But we are in a strong position now, why should we worry whether we can do it or not?

“We need a big win, yes. And Chelsea can be an opportunity, of course. It is certainly something that will speed up the maturing of the team.

“Scared is a big word. But we have played with a little bit of restriction in the past. It's down to the fact that the team wants to do so well, they are so keen to prove everybody wrong. That creates a little bit of a handbrake feeling in the team. But we will naturally get rid of that slowly.

“To be in a race for the title we know that to beat Chelsea, Man United and Man City at home will be vital.”

Wenger is clear on that point – Emirates Stadium will decide Arsenal’s League position. If you leave those defeats at Chelsea and Manchester United on their record but turn the home defeats against West Brom, Newcastle and Tottenham into victories then they would be seven points clear going into Christmas.

All of Arsenal’s six-pointers take place in North London from now on. Win those – and keep up that very decent away record – then they could well be champions.

Wenger’s injury list is about as light as it has been all season. Lukasz Fabianski (hip) and Abou Diaby(ankle) would have been involved against Stoke if the weather had not intervened. That postponement also allowed Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie to work on their match sharpness.

Kieran Gibbs (ankle) is out until the start of January and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) won’t return before the back-end of the month – though this has been wrongly reported as a ‘new blow’ for the Belgian. It is just a case of Wenger being cautious in his estimation of a player who has suffered a set-back earlier in his recuperation. Manuel Almunia (ankle) is still out.

Chelsea are on a wretched run that has seen them take six points from their last seven games. The spell started at the beginning of November when assistant Ray Wilkins left Stamford Bridge. His dismissal has been cited as the major reason for their decline but surely the absence of Lampard and John Terry must be equally important. Drogba has also been struggling for form, possibly due to the effects of malaria.

However all three were on the pitch a fortnight ago when the Ivorian striker missed a last-minute penalty at Tottenham that could have sent them top of the table. The postponement of last Sunday’s clash with Manchester United means Lampard, in particular, will lack playing time. The Englishman has had an outstanding injury record since arriving at Stamford Bridge. His absence has coincided with a decline few people predicted.

“It was a surprise because they looked for a long time unbeatable,” admitted Wenger. “But they remain a strong team and we consider them a side we want to beat. During the season, any team has a period where they have a little bit less good results and that happened to Chelsea.

"But let's not focus too much on any weakness of Chelsea because that would not be right. They've experienced players, they always deliver good games against us so I don't expect them to come to the Emirates and lie down.

"To beat Chelsea we will have had to have deliver a top-class team performance. We need to add something to our last two performances and I'm hopeful we can do that at home.

"It's a very important game for both teams,” concluded Wenger. “But for us it is a hurdle that can strengthen our belief. 

 “I’ll consider it a psychological boost if we beat them.”

And, of course, a change for the better.

Wenger - No need for us to envy Chelsea

Arsène Wenger says Arsenal have no need to envy Chelsea despite their London rivals' recent success.

It's not that long since the Gunners had the sign over the Blues. Arsène Wenger did not lose any of his first 17 Premier League fixtures against Chelsea as his team swept to the title in 1998, 2002 and 2004. Since then the pendulum has swung: Chelsea have lost just two of the 11 League meetings since then and have three titles of their own.

Carlo Ancelotti delivered the Double last season and Arsenal's players could be forgiven for wanting what their opponents have when Chelsea arrive at Emirates Stadium on Monday. But Wenger insists they should not have an inferiority complex.

"Let’s say we look at the number of points they have and the number of points we have. We have nothing to envy," said the Frenchman.

"It is just for us to get over that hurdle. As long as a team has not won, they wonder 'can we win?' It is a mental thing because the quality of the squad is there. We are still young but not so much now."

Chelsea's run of success began with a Carling Cup triumph under Jose Mourinho back in 2005 -  a trophy Arsenal are favourites to lift this season. Wenger believes that first piece of silverware is crucial to build momentum.

"Yes," he said, "Because as long as you have not won that [question] always comes back. 'So what have you won?'

"I understand and accept [what reporters write]. We still have built a new team and managed to stay at the top where many teams would be happy. You want more and that is our purpose this season, to deliver and respond to the demands people have."

Wenger - Christmas will NOT define title race

The festive period will NOT define the Premier League title race, according to Arsène Wenger.

This is traditionally a hectic time of year for English football and 2010 is no exception with every top-flight club facing four games in ten days or less. Arsenal, for their part, must squeeze in fixtures against Chelsea, Wigan, Birmingham and Manchester City.

With 12 points up for grabs this can often be a decisive stage of the season but Wenger thinks this year could be an exception. However he still wants maximum points to keep Arsenal in the best possible shape going into the New Year.

"No [the festive games won't be decisive] because it's too tight at the top of the table," said the Frenchman. "But it is an important period, that's for sure.

"I'd say for us that January is a vital month because we play many games as we are involved in the FA Cup, Carling Cup and championship. The way in which we can focus in every game will certainly decide our season.

"What we want is to win every single game. You speak about four but I speak about one. That’s the next one. We know our home form - Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool we have played away and our home form in these kind of games will be decisive."

Boss - England must make up mind on Wilshere

Arsène Wenger has called on the England set-up to decide if Jack Wilshere belongs with the Under-21s or the full side.

The midfielder, 19 on New Year’s Day, has had a meteoric rise in the final few months of 2010.

He was nearly loaned back to Bolton in August but stayed in North London and established himself in the Arsenal first-team. He also became a full England international but has since played in the younger age category.

The national set-up has indicated they would like to include Wilshere in the Under-21s for the European Championships next summer. For footballing and fatigue reasons, Wenger does not want him to go.

“What the English FA have to decide is [whether] the player is in the first-team or in the Under-21s,” said the Arsenal manager. “Personally, I don’t believe ever a player performs when he has been in the top team and comes back down to the Under-21s. I’ve never seen it, so it is always a bad decision.

“When a player plays under his normal real level he is never good. If you take any player who plays at Arsenal in the Premier League, put him down to Division One, you would be disappointed by him because it is a low mental key for him and he has to adapt to a different game. He will be lost.

“The second thing is that we have to sit down at the end of the season and see how many games Wilshere has played before considering if he plays in the Under-21s.

“If he has played over 40 games and he is still at 18 or 19 years of age, you have to be conscious as well that every time he plays when he goes in the fight he has to put 200 per cent in to win the ball. So, when a guy like him has played 40 games, in the season, he needs a rest.”

To date, Wilshere has played 24 games – 21 with Arsenal, one with England and two with the Under-21s

“The boy wants to play,” added Wenger. “I find that positive. But if he is now playing with the first-team until June and then playing in the Under-21s then that will not work.”

'I'd sign Beckham... but we don't need him'

Arsène Wenger would consider a move for David Beckham - but he has no room in his squad for the former England captain.

The Arsenal manager is a huge admirer of the 35-year-old and has invited the midfielder to train at London Colney in the past so he can maintain his fitness during the MLS close-season.

The LA Galaxy star has come to the end of another campaign in the United States and has been linked with a loan move after two previous spells with AC Milan. But his destination will not be Emirates Stadium.

"Of course I would consider signing Beckham but it's in an area where we do not need players," explained Wenger. "We have Walcott, Nasri, Rosicky, Arshavin, Vela and Eboue who can play on the flanks.

"I love David Beckham and when he was here [training] he was a fantastic example on the professional side. He was the first in and the last out.

"But I cannot sign anybody in January in the department where he plays."

Arsenal Striker Robin Van Persie Linked With Shock £25.5m Bayern Munich Move

Bayern München are lining up a move for Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie , according to German reports.
The 4-4-2 Web site says Bayern boss Louis Van Gaal is keen on bringing his compatriot to the Bavarian outfit even though he would be cup tied for the Champions League.

The 27-year-old joined Arsenal from Feyenoord Rotterdam in 2004, and although his tremendous talent was obvious early on, his Gunners career has been blighted somewhat by injury.

The Dutchman returned to action in November after a two-month layoff with an injury to his left heel.

Although van Persie has only played eight games this term, he has still managed a goal and three assists.

He is contracted to Arsenal until 2014, and he is valued at €20M-30M. (IMScouting)

Robin Van Persie has had a very stop start time at Arsenal since his move six years ago, with the Dutchman missing more games out injured than he has actually started and now it appears that Bayern Munich are willing to offer a big sum for the Emirates striker and one wonders what Arsene Wenger would elect to do if indeed an offer was made by the German giants.

The 27 year old is a cult hero at the club and appears keen to fight his way back to full fitness but may well also be interested in a new challenge at the Allianz Arena. Come the summer perhaps this deal will be more relevant as the former Feyenoord man may well have either proven himself a crucial player that Wenger can ill afford to lose or he may have picked up another injury that will curtail his progess.

Marouane Chamakh has proven a great signing and has pretty much taken the goal scoring burden with the likes of Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela reportedly set to leave the club, would the Gunners consider allowing Van Persie to leave as well?

INJURY NEWS - Fabianski and Diaby back for Chelsea game

Wenger on injury news ahead of the Chelsea game

Lukasz Fabianski and Abou Diaby will return to the Arsenal squad for the top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea on Monday.

Speaking to TV Online on Wednesday, Arsène Wenger revealed that the pair would have been involved against Stoke last Saturday if that game had not been postponed due to snow.

The extra time has allowed Fabianski to completely recover from the hip injury that kept him out at Manchester United the previous Monday. Diaby has been training for sometime following his ankle problem but he has not figured in the first-team since October 16.

The postponement has also allowed Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas to move closer to full match-fitness. However Wenger admitted he will be without Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Kieran Gibbs (ankle) and Manuel Almunia (ankle) until the New Year. He believes the Englishman should return at the start of next month, the Belgian towards the end.

“We have everybody back,” said Wenger. “We had them in the squad for Stoke - Diaby, Fabregas, Van Persie. Fabianski too.

“They have had one more week to prepare for this game and build up their fitness. That will have helped them of course.

“So overall we miss only Vermaelen, Almunia and Kieran Gibbs now. They will not be back in the short–term - over Christmas - but everybody else is available.”

When asked for a time-scale for the Belgian, the manager was understandably wary given the centre back has been absent since August 28.

“I would rather say late January,” said Wenger. “He is short on fitness and we have to build it up. That will take three to four weeks. He has started now and the signs are good. But I have been hit so many times with backlash that I am very cautious with Vermaelen.

“However Gibbs should be available at the beginning of January.”

Wilshere - Carling Cup win can be a catalyst

A Carling Cup triumph could be the catalyst for years of success at Emirates Stadium, according to Jack Wilshere.

The 18-year-old was man-of-the-match in the 4-1 win at Tottenham that started Arsenal on their road to Wembley and he was back in the Gunners' midfield for the Quarter-Final victory over Wigan after missing the Newcastle tie through suspension.

Ipswich lie in wait in the last four while the Carling Cup Final takes place ten weeks before the end of the season, in late February. Wilshere is confident that success in the competition would lift the pressure on Arsenal and spur them on to even greater glories.

“I really think it’d be massive for the confidence," he told the Official Arsenal Magazine.

"If you win that [the Carling Cup] in February then spirits are so high for the rest of the season, you can probably go on and do anything. I believe it’d start opening up – more and more would come.

"Everything looks open this season – we know anyone can beat anyone so we just need to win our games, see where we are later in the winter and then push on.

"Standards in the Premier League have improved – you see sides like Sunderland looking to become top teams now, attracting big players and developing good youngsters. There are so many teams around the edges now that are looking to push on, so consistency will be the key.”

Arsenal Vs Stoke City - Preview

After the events of the past week, it is not something you can really shout about but Arsène Wenger believes his side will still “have their say” in the title race this season.

Arsenal were beaten 1-0 at Manchester United in a massive match last Monday. A victory at Old Trafford would have sent them four points clear at the top; as it turned out, they were leapfrogged by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

The critics sharpened their knives as the visitors toiled. Although the scoreline was narrow, they argued, there was a wide discrepancy between the sides on the night.

Whatever your viewpoint, it was Arsenal’s fifth defeat in the Premier League while Manchester United remain unbeaten. However Ferguson’s record will be under one of its greatest threats this season when they visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Manchester United are without a win in their last nine games at Chelsea and, should they lose, Arsenal could finish the weekend back on top of the Premier League.

Of course they will have to beat Stoke at Emirates Stadium to have any hope of that. But the situation just goes to prove that this is a season in which opinion will shift and re-shape on a regular basis.

“I am surprised that you are surprised,” said Wenger on Friday when asked about the possibility of going top once more.

“Yes, we were disappointed because we lost at Manchester United but we have an opportunity to go back to winning habits at home.

“We were on a good run before Manchester United. But we lost 1-0 and it was difficult to swallow but we have to accept it.

“What is positive is if you look overall at our situation, we are still in a strong position because we still play Chelsea, Man United and Man City at home. Liverpool as well. 

“So more than ever, we will still have our say in this League.”

But the Chelsea v Manchester United game is certainly seen as pivotal. Earlier in the campaign, even Wenger admitted Carlo Ancelotti’s side could run away with the title. In the last two months they have stumbled while Ferguson’s side have muddled their way back to form. When they meet this weekend, the Arsenal manager would like to be peering down on the pair of them from the top of the table.

“What I want to see is us winning the game on Saturday and then I can watch the game on Sunday in a relaxed way,” he said.

“Let's see what happens,” he replied when asked for a preferable result. “Maybe a draw but what is really important is we win our games.

“You cannot always speculate on the results of others. You only have a chance to do well in the League if you win your own games.”

With a name like Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal’s young Polish keeper is hardly a headline-writer’s dream. But if he keeps on performing like he did on his debut at Old Trafford, then they will be forced to stretch their grey matter.

Wenger will be happy to retain him for Stoke but, on Thursday, Lukasz Fabianski was 80 per cent fit. If he regains the final 20 he will play. Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are available but, despite returning to full training, Abou Diaby, has only a minimal chance of making the bench.

Nicklas Bendtner is about to become a father so he may not be involved. Manuel Almunia is out with a new ankle problem.

This is Stoke’s first visit to Emirates Stadium since the game last February in which Aaron Ramsey’s leg was broken by a tackle from Ryan Shawcross. Understandably the issue was a high priority in Wenger’s pre-match press conference but the manager was anxious to play down fears of lingering animosity on the pitch and asked for respect from the stands.

Stoke’s defeat to Blackpool last weekend ended a run of five games without defeat. For a while it appeared that Tony Pulis’ side were suffering a bout of “third-season syndrome” but after 17 games they have 21 points – exactly the same as last season when they finished a creditable 11th.

Stoke came into the Premier League with an uncompromising reputation but, according to Wenger, they are evolving.

“I think they have improved on the footballing side so they are a dangerous team for anybody,” he said.

“I certainly think they are offensively more dangerous than before because they have Kenwyne Jones, Ricardo Fuller, Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington.

“They are very dangerous on the flanks, with good crosses, and in the middle. When you play against Stoke you know you will need a very solid defensive game.”

And that is something Arsenal have lacked at home on occasion this season. While the defeats at Manchester United and Chelsea have been used as measuring sticks, Wenger’s men would be well clear at the top if they had not lost to West Brom, Newcastle and Tottenham on home soil.

Victories over Wigan and Fulham have got them back on their feet at Emirates Stadium. But if the patient is still unsteady then Stoke are the type of side to punish any over elaboration in front of goal. Not that Wenger sees that as a major problem right now.

“We did not lose the game on Monday night because of that,” he said. “But because, defensively, Man United exploited some of our positions on long balls. It was not necessarily down to the fact that we were too over elaborate in our game.

“I admit there is more of a danger of that at home. You always want to make the right decision when you are on the ball. Sometimes it is to take your chance. But I personally believe football suffers much more from people who are selfish than people who over elaborate.”

The working week started with Manchester United and ended with Barcelona in the Champions League draw. These are two major names in world football – but Arsenal are another. Despite an ongoing failure in ‘big games’, going top of the table will always cure any remnants of an inferiority complex.

No-one’s claiming Wenger’s side are perfect right now but, if they beat Stoke they are top. If Chelsea beat Manchester United they will stay there for Christmas.

Clearly, Arsenal can be beaten this season but they can't be ignored.