FA Cup Preview : Arsenal Vs Leeds United

For the first time in decade, Arsène Wenger is going ‘all out’ in the four main competitions – and he’ll prove it on Saturday.

Ever since the early years of his tenure in North London, the Arsenal manager has targeted the Premier League and Champions League but managed his resources in the FA and Carling Cups.

He played a young side in the latter knockout competition and often had to do to same in the middle rounds of the former when the European games returned to the calendar.

However this season, Wenger believes the size of his squad can cover any eventuality.

On Saturday, Arsenal start their 2011 FA Cup adventure with a tough-looking tie with Leeds at Emirates Stadium. On Wednesday, they play the first leg of their Carling Cup Semi-Final against Ipswich.

Wenger shuffled his squad for those four Premier League games in ten days over Christmas and he has promised more of the same this weekend.

But, at the same time, Arsenal will NOT be weak.

“I said since the start of the season that I have a big squad and that we will go for all the competitions,” he said at his pre-match press conference. “Our desire is to qualify on Saturday, we take the FA Cup very seriously.

“We rotated quite well I think [over Christmas] so we are not over-tired. I will play the best team available.

“I am very lucky because I have 25 players of a top, top level and choosing for any game is a big problem because I have an abundance of quality. The team who plays will be the freshest team and therefore the best available.

“We play on Wednesday in the Semi-Final of the League Cup and we have four days to prepare after the FA Cup, so it is no problem.”

On Friday, Wenger ruled out Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie. He then added that Aaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela and Kieran Gibbs would be in the squad while Wojciech Szczesny should probably take the gloves.

That may appear as though four regulars are out and four not-so-regulars are in but Saturday’s side will not be like that. Expect a host of familiar names with maybe one surprise on the bench.

Leeds ended Wenger’s first FA Cup campaign at Highbury in 1997. It remains the only time Arsenal have lost on home soil under the Frenchman. They have not been defeated by lower league opposition in that time either.

Despite that, Simon Grayson’s side will fancy a shock to match the one they pulled off at Manchester United last season.

They will be backed by around 9,000 travelling fans for their first trip to Emirates Stadium. To Wenger, the game rekindles memories of games gone by.

“Not so long ago, on January 1, 2002, Leeds were top of the Premier League but three or four years later, they were in League One,” he said.

“It just shows you how quickly you can go up and down when you do not respect the basic rules of our game. Leeds is part of a tradition of football history in England. You knew when you went to Leeds, if you took points there you had a chance to do well in the League.

“And it looks now as though they are coming up again.”

Arsenal fans endured a turgid 0-0 draw with an unambitious and shackling Manchester City side on Wednesday. Leeds will be the polar opposite. In the Championship they have scored 46 goals – a figure behind only Watford – and conceded 43 – a figure bettered by only Preston, who are rock bottom.

Sanchez Watt, on loan from Arsenal, may be part of that frontline but he is more likely to be on the bench even if he does recover from injury.

The home side will attack too. Mostly because it is Wenger’s way but also because they will not want a replay adding to a cluttered schedule.

“We will go to win the game,” said Wenger. “We are at home at the Emirates so we can't say we're going for a draw.

“If we have to replay to qualify, we'll do that aswell. I remember it happened against Port Vale where we had to go there in a replay and we won. After that we won the Cup.

“But ideally we want to qualify tomorrow because after that we have Ipswich and then West Ham.”

Wenger has never ‘chosen’ any competition really. The fruits of a deliberate Carling Cup policy are obvious to see and his decisions in the FA Cup have been steered by Champions League demands.

“The only problem we have had in the FA Cup is sometimes it conflicts with the Champions League when you go far,” he said.

“I remember we played Manchester United in the Semi-Finals at Villa Park, and then three days later we had a Quarter-Final of the Champions League.

“I played all of the players and in the end we lost the Champions League match late in the game. When that happens you think we should have sacrificed a bit more the FA Cup.

“But we learned over Christmas that we have the potential to go all the way this season and that we have the desire to do it.

“So let’s just go for it.”

Arsene Wenger only wants one player for Arsenal this month

 

ARSENE Wenger has admitted he will wait until the end of the transfer window to decide whether or not to bring in defensive reinforcements for the stricken Thomas Vermaelen.

The Gunners boss has asked his medical team for a final answer on whether or not Vermaelen will be fit to play a part in the second half of the season.

The Belgian defender has not played since August because of an Achilles problem, and Wenger admitted this week he is still in the dark over whether or not the 25-year-old will recover.

“I completely exclude any signings in midfield or the offensive department,” said Wenger on Tuesday.
“At the back it just depends on Vermaelen. I am waiting to know more about him and at the end of January I will have to make a decision.”

If the diagnosis is a negative one then Wenger will enter the transfer market, and may even consider taking a player on a six-month loan as emergency cover.

Aston Villa’s Gary Cahill has been a long-term target for the Gunners boss, but Bolton Wanderers have pinned a £20million price tag on the England defender’s head.

Fulham’s Brede Hangeland is another name Wenger knows well, but the Norway international is unlikely to be allowed to leave Craven Cottage.

Meanwhile another player who is on Arsenal’s radar, young Paris St Germain defender Mamadou Sakho, will not be making a January move, according to his agent.

“No, I don’t think he will leave PSG in January,” said Werner Baader, who represents the 20-year-old Frenchman

“It isn’t possible in the January transfer window, but a move in the summer is possible. We will wait and see.”
Other than his defensive concerns, Wenger reported a clean bill of health for his squad in the New Year and feels they are ready to launch an assault for the Premier League title.

“We are confident, we have great belief, we are highly motivated, very hungry to do well and overall physically we are in a good shape,” said Wenger.

“This is the first time we go into a New Year with a squad of this size available. We have no new injuries and lots of players coming back.

“Kieran Gibbs will be available for Saturday, Aaron Ramsey is back from loan, [Henri] Lansbury as well and Abou Diaby will only be a few weeks.

“[The title race] is not so clear this year, there are five teams in the fight. Some teams have a bit more belief than others but that can change very quickly. It promises a very interesting sprint.

“We are in a period of the season now where the team who can be consistent now will do it. You always have a team who finds momentum after Christmas, and that team will win the championship.”

'We had the performance and not the result'

On the performance against Manchester City…
I feel we had the performance and not the result. But I take a lot of encouragement from tonight’s game, even if mathematically we are all frustrated and the players are very disappointed. But overall there is no way we should lose courage or belief in our team. It is the opposite. We should even come out with even more belief in our quality and be more resolute in the coming games because we have shown we have what it takes to be a serious contender in this League.

On his regrets about the game…
The regret I have tonight is that we did not take our early chances because that would have changed the game. They came here to have a 0-0 and they got what they wanted. I believe had we scored the first goal it would have changed the run of the game tremendously. We faced long, long periods in the game where we faced 10 men as Tevez – I have never seen him so deep. When we lost a little bit of sharpness and freshness in our movement, we looked less dangerous, because you need to play against 10 men like that in the final third. Quality passing, sharp movements… they became more difficult as the game went down.

On Manchester City's approach…
I wasn’t surprised because they came here last year set up to play 0-0 as well. I wasn’t too surprised, but I hoped that we would have scored one of our early chances. I must say as well that we were unlucky because we hit the post a few times, their keeper made a few good saves and they defended very deep. So it was difficult.
 
On playing for time at the end of the game…
That was the frustrating thing of the night a little bit, yes.  That was showing that they were happy with the 0-0. I can never understand why when the goal kick is on the right, the goalkeeper goes on the left. It’s always a sign that they are happy to gain a few seconds when they go down and are not in a hurry to get up. We faced that today and I would rather take the positive out of the game. It is a long way to go and I believe my team gets stronger and stronger thought we have to keep focusing on what we do.

We try to win our games always, but maybe it was their way to try to win. To defend deep and to catch us on the break and make something special. That was the way they were organized tonight. We have to respect that and sort out the problems we face. Even if a team defends deep, we have to find a way to score and you cannot reproach Man City for that. Maybe it was not the most spectacular way but still they were efficient in what they wanted and they got it.

On the sending off…
It was harsh. I hoped for a second that it would be two yellows because the game was fair. It was not very physical or a game full of hate, it was a respectful game. Both teams were committed but I hoped yellow and we got red. He can only show yellow or red and he chose red. It looked to me a little out of context to the game, but we have to look at it again because it was on the other side of the bench.

On whether he will appeal the decision…
I don’t know. I will look at it first before I make a decision. It will be three games, but it is good for us because three games is always only one week for us.  
 
On Mancini saying his approach was due to missing players…
They played Barry, De Jong and Toure in midfield. Tevez up front. At the back they had I think a strong defence. They missed maybe one or two players. They missed Silva maybe. I cannot explain his approach only he can explain his approach.

On Fabregas being frustrated…
Of course Cesc is upset because he wants to win the game. He doesn’t go out there to play a draw he goes out there to win and every time he does not win I can tell you he is very frustrated. But we are all [frustrated] tonight. I don’t blame my team. I think I would more encourage them to keep playing like we do and win more games than we draw.

Arsenal 0 - 0 Manchester City - Match Report

It was a night of frustration.

Arsenal dominated second-place Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday but just could not score.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas both bashed shots against the same post in a breakneck first half. An offisideTheo Walcott hit the other. The early pace ebbed away somewhat in the second period and the key moment came on the hour when the Dutchman was denied by a spectacular save from Joe Hart.

Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were dismissed in the dying seconds for a clash on the sidelines. The sendings-off sapped the final drops of spirit from a difficult game.

However, Arsène Wenger will be buoyed by the domination his side enjoyed against a direct title rival.

On the evidence of this evening it is Arsenal who will challenge Manchester United more strongly for the Premier League crown over the course of the coming months.

Tonight was Twelfth Night. The evening when tradition demands that the Christmas decorations must come down.

It was the end of the Festive Football and, not surprisingly, Wenger chose the side that had brought his success during that period.

This was the side that had beaten Chelsea and Birmingham so comprehensively. Lukasz Fabianski caused a slight concern when he appeared to hurt his shoulder in the warm-up but it did not prevent him starting the game.

Of course this was second versus third – a massive encounter for both sides.

About 95 per cent of the time, matches of this magnitude start slowly.

This one fell into the other five per cent.

It took desperate defending and a dash of luck to keep out a rampant Arsenal in the opening 15 minutes or so.

Samir Nasri burst in to the area and tapped a pass to the unmarked Jack Wilshere on the right of the area. The Englishman elected not to shoot and tried to find Van Persie at the far post. His cross trickled past the foot of the stretching Dutchman.

Manchester City flew up the other end and James Milner drove wide.

Then Wilshere stung the hands of Hart from the edge of the area.

All this happened with barely 200 seconds on the clock. It was a thunderous start and the pace was just settling down when the game received another jolt.

There seemed little on when Van Persie pirouetted himself some space on the edge of the area in the ninth minute. But then he thumped a rasping left-foot shot against the base of the post.

The visitors arrived at Emirates Stadium with the best defensive record in the top flight but they seemed to be struggling with Arsenal this evening.

In the 11th minute, Nasri and Theo Walcott created a melee in the penalty area. Eventually the ball found its way to Wilshere 12 yards out. His sidefoot shot was clutched on the line by the grateful Hart.

The game could not maintain that pace - and it didn’t. But, despite the lull, Arsenal were on still top.

In the 23rd minute, Wilshere and Van Persie combined over a right-wing free-kick to give Walcott an ounce of space in the area. The winger drove his cross-shot just wide.

Manchester City were offering little of substance but they rallied as the half-hour approached. Gareth Barry’s free-kick sailed over Sagna and Alex Song had to bundle behind from a Carlos Tevez cutback. Seconds later, Van Persie won a crucial back-post header when surrounded by three visiting players.

In the 30th minute, Nasri darted inside and found Fabregas. His drive hit the same piece of post that Van Persie had rattled earlier. The rebound flew across goal and fell to Walcott who fired against the other post. The latter effort would not have counted. The Englishman had been flagged offside.

Walcott was having another eye-catching game. Six minutes before the half-time whistle he raced through in the right-channel and reached the byline. His cross certainly hit the hand of Vincent Kompany. Referee Mike Jones presumably thought the Manchester City defender was so close he could not have got it out of the way.

In injury time, Walcott weaved inside and a Fabregas shot was deflected over by the diving Nigel de Jong.

It was another chance for Arsenal in a half they had dominated. Their performance had been fine. The only problem was that they had not secured the lead they so richly deserved.

The tide was generally in the same direction after the restart but the current was weaker.

Van Persie drove into the sidenetting in the 52nd minute but by now the visitors were offering much more of a blockade. And when they did get through, Hart blocked their path.

On the hour, Van Persie tried his luck from 25 yards and the England keeper threw himself to his right to turn the ball aside. A fantastic save.

With 21 minutes left, Wenger replaced Walcott with Andrey Arshavin. It produced more of the same frustation so, with 10 minutes left, he brought on Nicklas Bendtner for Wilshere.

But the story continued.

In the final minute of full time, Sagna and Zabaleta squared up. Both received their marching orders.

Van Persie’s free-kick forced another block from Hart in injury time but this was one of those nights for Wenger’s men.

Arsenal Vs Manchester City - Match Preview

Arsène Wenger knows that one of the top five - somehow, sometime - will find a modicum of momentum in the New Year.

And he believes it will be enough to win them the title.

The Premier League has been a mish-mash this season. Leaders Manchester United look the team most likely at the moment - and remain unbeaten – yet their performances have hardly inspired.

But if it is not to be Sir Alex Ferguson’s side then Arsenal and Manchester City are next in the line.

That is why even the normally reserved Wenger could not help but build up the clash between the two sides at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Arsenal’s Christmas was decent. They won the tougher-looking games – Chelsea (h) and Birmingham (a) – and drew at Wigan with a much-changed side.

A victory over Manchester City would move them both into second place and, surely, the role of chief challengers to the Old Trafford outfit.

“It is a very, very big game because we are very ambitious in this League,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“We have a good away record and if we beat the big teams at home - and we made a start against Chelsea - we have a chance to win the title. That’s why this game is very big.

“The squad is confident and has great belief. They are very hungry, highly motivated to do well and physically we are in great shape.

“I had a two-point frustration over Christmas but I am very happy with the attitude of the players and the way we improve from game to game.

“You always have a team after the New Year who finds a momentum and this team will win the title.

“That is why it is down to consistency. But this team have a good wave of belief, togetherness and quality. I am confident that we will maintain that and get stronger and stronger.

“There are five teams in the fight. Some teams have a bit more belief than others but that can change very quickly. So overall it promises to be a very interesting sprint.”

Arsenal’s back has jettisoned a few monkeys this season, only for a couple more to clamber on.

Winning at ‘tough’ places has been a perennial problem. This term they have taken three points on the grounds of Birmingham, Blackburn, Wolves, Everton and Aston Villa.

They have also beaten title rivals – Chelsea at home and Manchester City away.

In addition, on Tuesday Wenger acknowledged his injury list was as short as it has ever been at this stage of the season.

But then who could have predicted that they would have lost three times at Emirates Stadium before Christmas.

Arsenal have dropped nine points at home so far. No title-winning team have let slip more than ten since Wenger’s side scooped the trophy in 2001/02. No wonder the manager has said home form will make or break his side’s challenge.

Only Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny have played throughout Christmas. Having beaten Chelsea so comprehensively on December 27, Wenger swapped the remaining eight two days later and let in a late goal to draw 2-2 at Wigan. He brought the same eight back at Birmingham on New Year’s Day and steamrollered Birmingham 3-0.

With the FA Cup Third Round coming on Saturday, the manager may broadly stick with the same squad this time and change it around when Leeds come to Emirates Stadium at the weekend.

It is a gamble but this is one of the biggest squads Wenger has had.

There were no unfamiliar names on show at Wigan or Birmingham but Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie were omitted from the squad for the first game and Marouane Chamakh for the second.

The current strength of personnel is based on the gradual maturing of players who were given their debuts as teenagers – often in the Carling Cup.

Manchester City have a different model. They are expected to sign striker Eden Dzeko from Wolfsburg in the next few days for a fee rumoured to be £27 million.

“We know they can decide to do it if they want,” said Wenger. “And they did it because they have the financial power.”

The Bosnian is another massive investment following the likes of David Silva, Mario Balotelli, Joleon Lescott, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, Jerome Boateng, plus a couple from Arsenal, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor.

That investment has given Manchester City the best defence in the Premier League but, while their ‘goals for’ column does not measure up too badly, Mancini is still accused of being too cagey.

The obvious example came in this fixture last season when an Arsenal side still smarting from consecutive defeats to Barcelona, Tottenham and Wigan rather ‘got away with’ a goalless draw.

Manchester City, who were chasing hard for fourth spot, seemed satisfied with a point when a little more adventure may have brought them all three.

According to Wenger, Mancini may do something similar on Wednesday.

“I expect them to try and be tight defensively and catch us on the break,” said the Frenchman. “We will be faithful to what we do and try to put them under pressure. But as well it could be a very open game – you never can predict that.”

The same goes for this season. However a festive period topped and tailed with home wins over title rivals will give Arsenal something for which they have striven all season - consistency.

And, it will be the springboard for a proper title assault in the second half of this season.