Toure - Liverpool fear us

Kolo Toure says Arsenal have the upper hand over Liverpool thanks to the recent history between the two teams.

Arsenal beat Liverpool in three of their four meetings last season and Toure believes that will stand them in good stead at The Emirates on Wednesday.

"It is an exciting tie," said Toure. "Last season we played them four times (meeting in the FA and Carling Cups as well as the league) and we showed how strong we were - we beat them in three of those games.

"It is going to be really tight, we know that, but we have the quality and I think they will be scared to play against us.

"We need to show them that we have continued to improve and are even stronger than last season."

"We are used to playing against them, so we know we are in for a battle."

Statement: Update on Eduardo's progress

On Monday afternoon, Arsenal FC released the following statement:

"As planned, Eduardo visited a specialist this morning.

"X-rays show that he is making satisfactory progress and the full cast on his left leg was removed and has been replaced with an air boot for protection.

"Eduardo’s road to recovery is on schedule and he will now start his rehabilitation programme."

Van Persie hails 'little miracle' at Bolton

Van Persie believes Saturday's 'little miracle' can be Arsenal's springboard to success at the business end of the season.

The Dutchman scored one of three second-half goals as the 10-man visitors overhauled a 2-0 deficit on an incredible afternoon at Bolton.

Van Persie believes Saturday's storming revival will help Arsenal kick-on in the final six weeks of the campaign.

"I certainly see it that way," he said. "We'd taken four points in five games since Birmingham. That is not enough for us. We knew we had to win this game and we did.

"Before the game, when everyone sat together we said that this was a massive game and we could not afford to lose points.

"And what a game. We were 2-0 down at Bolton, down to 10 men, it was raining, it could not have been worse. After an hour it seemed just so far, so far but we showed a big, big strength. It is a little miracle that we won the game."

Arsenal's poor Premier League run had started with another dramatic away game that had a sting in the tail. At Birmingham on February 23, Wenger's men recovered from seeing Eduardo break his leg and being a goal down to lead 2-1 before they were pegged back by a controversial late penalty.

According to Van Persie, their stricken striker is still spurring them on.

"Eduardo is a fantastic guy and a fantastic player so I am just thinking of winning for him," said the 24-year-old. "Everyone feels sorry for him. It is just a sad thing. Unfortunately this is life, we have to get our stuff together and win games. But personally I am still thinking about winning these games for him."

Wenger does not fear draw

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger does not believe a goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates on Wednesday would be the worst result in the world.

"Of course we would like to win the home game on Wednesday, but 0-0 is never a disappointing result in the first leg," explained Wenger.

"We have seen many times that it puts the other team under huge pressure in the second game because they are in two minds. They don't really know whether to go for it or to sit back and wait - it gives you every chance.

"But it is true that Liverpool have 12 men at Anfield. Their crowd have played a big part in their European success, they have turned so many games because the rules are different in Europe.

"In this sort of game between two English teams, I feel mental strength will be the deciding factor. This will be a test of character, who wants it more."

Physical battle key for Wenger

The Arsenal boss sees the challenge as totally different to the one posed by Milan in the last round, but one his side is well capable of dealing with.

"Liverpool will be a different opponent. Liverpool will be more rough, more edgy and difficult to penetrate," Wenger said.

"Milan was a confrontation of two similar styles where we were better. Against Liverpool we will have to win the physical battle as well. Against Milan we were almost guaranteed to win the physical battle.

"Against an English team, the competition is always different. You come back to a formula where the mental strengths of the two teams will make all the difference in the game.

"We know each other well. The players who can turn a game have to turn up on the night.

"When you play a local team in the European Cup it is a test of character. We know we can do it, but who wants it the most?

"I believe we have that character and the discipline is linked with the importance of the away goal and how long you can keep the discipline in the games."

Bolton V Arsenal

Bolton 2- 3 Arsenal

Bolton

Taylor 14' 43'

Arsenal

Diaby sent off 30'
Gallas 62'
van Persie(pen) 68'
Samuel(og) 90+1'

Extras

Van persie miss

Full time celebrations

Highlights

MOTD highlights

MOTD interview and analysis




Remarkable come back from the Gunners. Trailing by 2 goals to nil, having a man sent off after just 30 min, against our all time bogey team is just superb.

I do think we have turned the corner and are back on the climb in the title race. Truely remarkable performance from the in the 2nd half, after showing no conviction in the first half!
I think we deserved the 3 points for the 2nd half performance alone.


Match report here

Match stats and ratings here

Wengers post match comments here

Matt Le Tissier thoughts here

Wenger thinks positively

Arsene Wenger is thinking positively ahead of Arsenal's must-win game at Bolton on Saturday.

He told Arsenal TV Online: "We will be tested in the air because a team which has a lack of confidence takes less risks.

"We want to play our game, which is why I am convinced it will be down to our football - but also our mental strength and our resilience on the day."

He added: "Bolton are a good side and I have seen quality games from them, but the Premier League is so good now that once you drop your confidence you are quickly vulnerable.

"We just have to expect them to be as they were before, to prepare mentally for that kind of game and then hopefully we will have a good surprise."

Wenger believes the Gunners need to concentrate on getting a victory and not look further ahead.

He said: "The moments in the game are just not going for us, and that is where we want to show big mental strength to push it through and get things going for us again.

"It is very important for us to get back to winning games, not to dream and be realistic. We need to win our next game and see where we go from there.

"The most important thing is to give everything to win the next one."

While solely concentrating on the Bolton game, Wenger knows it will take an almost perfect ending to the season for the Gunners to now become champions.

He said: "It will take seven wins, certainly, or maybe six and a draw.

"First, though, we have to come back to consistent performances."

Adebayor may be rested

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had admitted the club's lengthy season may finally be telling on striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

"He did not score recently because as a team we have made less chances, and also physically he was a bit jaded because he has played in nearly every single game since the start of the season," said Wenger.

"I believe he has given a lot this year and that he would need a little breather, maybe.

"He played a lot on his own up front and has had to fight very hard. At the moment, to refresh him a bit would do him some good.

"I have [Nicklas] Bendtner there, I have [Robin] van Persie coming back, but Adebayor is an important player in our squad."

Wenger backs Gallas to bounce back

Gallas remains the right leader, according to his countryman, and is backed to lead the club out of their worst form for nine years.

"William has my full support and my full backing and I am completely behind him, and behind the team as well," Wenger said.

"We are going through a bad patch, I agree with you, but we want to come back and win the games again that we can win.

"I believe at the moment when you don't go well, everybody is analysed a little bit more, with scrutiny.

"But what we want to do is perform well as a team again and we know we can do that.

"On Sunday, for example, we played okay, but we have to improve. Recently what punished us a lot is that defensively we have made big mistakes."

Gallas also created headline with comments he made about Walcott in the press recently, but Wenger insists that his remarks were flattering if anything until spun out of context.

"He said Walcott could be the next Wayne Rooney, but he has to work," Gallas added. "What is wrong with that? You want at 18 years of age to not work? It's unbelievable.

"I read it really carefully, it didn't say anything wrong on that. After the way it has been turned, yes.

"If you want to win the World Cup you have to accept that your players are highly exposed, you have to accept that you have to work.

"Is it an insult to say somebody has to work? I don't know, I don't think so."

Sagna Out For At Least Three Weeks

Bacary Sagna's injury woes are set to leave a gap in Arsenal's right-back position until mid-April at the very least.

The boss told Arsenal TV, "He has an ankle injury and the first news that we have is that he could be out for quite a while," said the manager. "I don't know how long he will be out but I feel it will be three weeks at least."


Indeed, Wenger would not rule out a worst-case prognosis of up to five weeks.

"I have seen the injury again on tape," continued the manager.

"He wanted to kick the ball out and he twisted his ankle. That made it a bad injury."

"The international players are not all back yet," said Wenger early on Thursday afternoon.

"But we have no real bad news. I have not spoken to some of them on the phone but if they were injured then they would have called. So it does not look bad.""

Clichy: We Need Seven Straight Wins Now

Arsenal are now six points behind Manchester United in the table following their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, a result that also saw the Blues move past them.


The Gunners still have a trip to Old Trafford and a home game against Liverpool to come this season, but Clichy says they'll need to win them both - as well their other five league matches - to finish top of the league.


"Seven games left mean there is a lot to do for them and for us," said the Frenchman, aware that at least one of United and Chelsea must drop points when the pair clash at Stamford Bridge in April.


"We just have to play the best football we can. If we win all the games anything is possible. But we have to be realistic and not drop any more points. We can't feel sorry for ourselves," he added of the side's present run - their worst in nine seasons.


"We have to go to Bolton on Saturday, win there and try to make something happen. It is going to be difficult but we have to dream and believe in it. When you look at the table you see Man Utd are six points ahead, so the gap is open a little bit now.


"It will be difficult for us but we have a great team and great quality. We have to think positively. Maybe if we can win all those seven games then something can happen. We know we cannot afford to lose anymore points now."

Flamini not ready to quit

Mathieu Flamani has insisted that Arsenal will keep on fighting until the last day of the season.

"We now have to win every game. We know it will be very hard, but I am sure we can do it. We have the quality, we are a very strong team.

"We have to keep going, work hard in training and win the next game."

Flamini is out of contract in the summer and there has been speculation of a move elsewhere, but he has assured fans that he wants to stay at Emirates Stadium.

The midfielder explained: "Like I said before, I am very happy at Arsenal and my agents are talking with the club."

Gallas issues rallying call

William Gallas accepts that Arsenal face an uphill battle to win the Premier League but insists the Gunners are still capable of winning the title.

"We can still win it. It is not finished yet, so we have to believe," Gallas told Arsenal TV Online.

"It will be difficult for us to come back because Manchester United now have six points (on Arsenal) - but we have to. We must play until the end of the season and then see.

"Maybe they can drop some points because of the Champions League - they can be tired, Chelsea too. We have to give everything until the end."

Sunday's defeat was only Arsenal's second in the league this season and Gallas insists the Gunners should not be disheartened having been on top at Stamford Bridge before Didier Drogba struck twice late on.

"Why do we have to be down?" asked Gallas. "Football is like this. You never know. You can be back. They can lose some points.

"We have to be ready for the next game and do not give up.

"We made some mistakes (against Chelsea), and sometimes it is difficult to understand. Normally we do not do things like this," he added.

"But if you do not have the luck, it is not easy.

"Maybe we deserved to win because before they scored we controlled the game. After their goal, we went down."

Chelsea V Arsenal

Chelsea 2 - 1 Arsenal

Sagna 59'

Drogba 73' and 82'

First Half Highlights

Second Half Highlights

This is a very bad result, considering that manu won earlier today. Our title hopes are fading by the minute. Our performance was really good, but what we lacked was that killer blow to finish of chelsea after we had taken the lead. Even though we are not entirely out of the title race(like liverpool) its getting tougher.


We have to rely on others teams result for us to win the BPL title from now on, which is not a good thing. Our young side's lack of experience is showing now. We just have to hope that they can overcome in the UCL at least, as its the only realistic target from now on till the end of the season.


Extras

Almunia save from Ballack free kick

Van persie's shot over the bar

Cudicini save from Eboue's chance

Drogba's Chance

Gallas hit the post which was later flagged offside

Match report here.

Match ratings here

Wengers post match comments here

Wenger - We will play wide

"I believe we need to get back to speeding up our passing around the box," said Wenger. "That's where we can be neater and where we can make a difference.

"We have been too narrow. That's down to the fact that I play Alex Hleb on one flank and he is more comfortable central and comes always inside.

"Therefore if teams defend deep like Middlesbrough did, we can be a bit narrow.

"We will play wide on Sunday, and Eboue is a natural wide player."

Source:skysports

Henry tips Gunners title triumph

Arsenal were five points clear of Manchester United at the start of February, but the tables have been turned and the reigning champions now sit three points ahead of Arsene Wenger's side. It is a deficit Henry believes can be reversed again though.

“I have this feeling Arsenal will win The Premier League,” said Henry in The Sun. “They are playing well against the big four and I do think they play the most attractive football, though Manchester United have also played some good stuff.

“So far, Arsenal have lost only one game and, if they remain unbeaten from now on, it would be very unusual not to win the title.

“Obviously, I love Arsenal. But that’s not the reason why I think they will win the title. I just feel they have the quality.

“I still follow their results, every game. I watch them every game possible and I wish them good luck. I still have something in my heart for Arsenal. I speak to Ade (Emmanuel Adebayor), William Gallas, Gael Clichy and Cesc [Fabregas]. I have also spoken to Gilberto a couple of times.

“They have played beautiful football this season and deserve to win something. It would be brilliant. No one thought they would drop points against Birmingham, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Wigan.

"They have been doing brilliantly against the big teams, so, maybe, it is a good time to play Chelsea.

“At this stage of the season, I actually think it is better to play the bigger teams.

“It is a big month for Arsenal but I think that they can do it.”

Arsenal’s top scorer this season, Adebayor, revealed earlier in the season he had been in regular contact with Henry, who had been handing him encouraging messages of support.

“When Ade arrived at Arsenal, I thought he would be a good signing,” continued Henry.

"Unfortunately, at the beginning, people were giving him stick. Now he is scoring and proving everyone wrong. Ade is one of the best strikers in Europe.

“As for Cesc, he is playing amazingly well. When he is in tune, like in Milan, Arsenal are in tune. He is the heart of the team.

“Cesc is already up there among the best players in the world.”

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal playing to win

Wenger, whose side held an eight-point lead themselves not so long ago, said: "I don't think we have a problem with motivation.

"To progress now we are in the final sprint. That is the moment where the tactical observation is gone and you just try to win the game.

"I believe we are in a situation where the direct confrontations with the top three teams will have a direct influence on the championship. It's who can beat the direct opponents that will win it. That's what we want to achieve on Sunday."

Defeat to Chelsea would see Avram Grant's side leapfrog them in to second place. But Wenger is convinced his side are going to bring an end to their run of four consecutive draws.

He said: "I'm highly impressed by the strength the team has shown. It's true we had a mental blow after Birmingham [after Eduardo's injury]. It takes some time to recover but I feel the team are over that and we need to move on.

"We had an eight point lead, but we had played one game more, so really it was a five point lead. That is nothing. It can change very quickly.

"Recently we have been in situations where we had to chase the game. That didn't happen earlier in the season.

"Against Aston Villa, Birmingham and Middlesbrough we had to chase the game because we gave goals away. Let's score the first goal on Sunday."

Wenger: Walcott ready for big stage

Arsene Wenger insists Theo Walcott is ready to make his mark on The Premier League after he was named in Fabio Capello’s England squad to face France.

The youngster has fought his back into the England set-up having burst onto the international scene in 2006 when he was named in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s World Cup squad.

But after a firing his first league goals of the season against Birmingham at the end of last month, Wenger believes Walcott has earned his international call-up.

Wenger said on Setanta Sports News: “He is ready to make an impact. What I like in Theo’s career is that he started as an international before becoming a player in The Premier League, but he has slowly but quietly worked his way back.

“For me he is on the way up and is really having an influence in training on a daily basis.”

Clichy - Chelsea's surge doesn't surprise me

"I don't think they have been overlooked," Clichy told Arsenal.com. "We always knew that Chelsea were going to be there at the end with such a great team and all the players they have got in the squad.

"They are a great club with great players, they won two championships and the only thing they are missing is the Champions League. Of course I won't wish them good luck for this year because we are still in it!

"Chelsea have been behind in the Premier League and that's not easier because you always have to win your games to catch up. But when you are in third people don't look at you like they look at the first team.

"We've had the experience of being on top and the pressure has been on. It's good to be top, it shows the quality is there, but it's not bad to be second or third. It will be an interesting end to the season and we hope we can come out in first place."

Clichy - Liverpool trilogy will be a ‘great challenge’

The French left-back agrees with Arsène Wenger's view that continental opponents bring a more authentic feel to the competition. However, Clichy is confident that Arsenal can prevail even if they need to beat Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United to taste European glory.

"I watched the draw at the training ground with all the guys and I was a bit disappointed because the Champions League is for playing against teams around Europe," Clichy told Arsenal.com.

"An Italian team or Spanish team would have been fantastic but Liverpool is not bad, they are a great side and it will be a great challenge. Actually it's not a surprise, I could feel it that we were going to get an English team.

"It is done now and at this stage of the competition it doesn't matter who you play against because all the teams have great quality. We know Liverpool, they know us, it will be like a Premier League game and we'll see what happens."

Arsenal and Liverpool will know each other better than ever after a quirk of the fixture list set up three meetings in the space of just six days. The two legs of their Champions League Quarter-Final sandwich a Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, April 5, but Clichy is not concerned.

"I don't think that affects the players at all," he said. "We did it last season when we played the FA Cup and Carling Cup together. In fact it's quite good fun because it doesn't happen much. We will look forward to it and hopefully we will come out as the winner."

The Cup double Clichy refers to brought two Anfield victories for Arsenal in the space of four days in January 2007 with a stunning aggregate score of 9-4. Clichy will settle for more of the same next month

Van Persie demands silverware

Robin van Persie has urged his Arsenal team-mates not to throw away their hard work so far this season.

"We have to win at least one trophy this season. If we don't, then we would have played all the fantastic football for nothing," said the Dutch forward.

"This is our moment and we need to win something. We all realise we are in a fantastic position and this has to be our year."

"I am not a day dreamer. I really think we can win the title and the Champions League this season.

"Why not? We have the qualities and we just have to stick together and believe in it. Belief can take you very far in football.

"It is still in our hands to win the double and we have to take these opportunities because we have something special here at Arsenal."

Van Persie has missed most of the season through injury but returned to the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday.

He is now looking to make up for lost time and believes he can make a big impact over the next two months.

"Physically I can't play a full 90 minutes yet but I'm getting there and I just need match fitness now," he explained.

"I need three or four games to get back into my stride but I will give everything I have whenever I'm out on the pitch.

"It has been a very frustrating season for me.

"It started really well but now all I ever seem to do is talk about injuries."

Wenger - It's frustrating but we will keep fighting until the end

Arsène Wenger is expecting his side to bounce back immediately from Saturday's disappointing draw against Middlesbrough.

Despite Kolo Toure's 84th-minute equaliser and a frantic finale, this felt like a defeat. But although Arsenal may have chosen the wrong time to wobble, the manager knows there is still time to rectify the situation.

"It is very frustrating because both Chelsea and Manchester United won 1-0 and they did not have the greatest of games either," said Wenger.

"That's what we wanted to achieve but it didn't work. We were 1-0 down early in the game and that gave Middlesbrough a lot of courage to defend. In the end we scored but it was too late to go on and win.

"It's frustrating because they had one shot on target and yet we dropped two points."

In fact there have been two points dropped in each of the last four games. For a title-chasing side who have been beaten only once all season that can only be classed as a slump. And Wenger has no apparent explanation.

"There is no obvious reason for it," he said. "Apart from the fact that we dropped two unbelievable points at Birmingham and that has maybe had consequences on our Premier League form.

"But you have to deal with it and I don't believe it's a good enough explanation. Wigan was just after the Champions League [at Milan], Aston Villa are a difficult team and we gave everything against Middlesbrough but we were not creative enough.

"I don't know [if the players feel sorry for themselves]. You can come to any conclusion. I feel they gave absolutely everything but there was a little fraction less of belief.

"There was a big disappointment in the dressing room. It was like a defeat. It is the flattest I have seen them after a game.

"But I feel this team fights. We came back again against Boro and this team will go until the end. I believe we need to keep fighting and then [we can] turn things around."

Toure - We can go to Chelsea and beat them

Chelsea's resurgence has heaped more pressure on Arsène Wenger's men but Toure believes that Arsenal can regroup and bounce back with a victory at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

"Again we were chasing the game [on Saturday] after conceding a really silly goal," said Toure. "It is always difficult for the team to come back and we are lucky that we scored a late goal again.

"Now we just need to keep going and win the big games. We are still in the title race and as long as we play like we did late on [against Middlesbrough] then in other games we might be more lucky.

"We will try to go to Chelsea and get some points. We know that we can go anywhere and win - we have shown that in Milan. We need to repeat that kind of performance next week and then we can beat Chelsea.

"We do not have a match now in the week, so we will rest and when we come back, we will be full of energy and can give everything. The most important thing is to be confident and play your game, stay strong in your mind and believe that until the end it is not finished.

"It is going to be an exciting finish to the Premier League. Whichever team is more confident and consistent is going to win the title. At the moment it is hard because we have dropped two points in every game. But when we get back to winning, we can carry that on until the end of the season."

source:arsenal.com

Gallas spells it out to faltering Gunners

Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough saw United remain top on goal difference but with a game in hand, and Gallas believes The Gunners must show their inner resolve if they are to win their first title since 2004.

“I’ll tell you why there was a difference between the win in Milan and our next game,” said Gallas in The Sun. “It was in the head.

"It is human nature that after a huge game in Europe it is difficult to find the same level motivation for the following game.

“In fact what we needed was an even higher level than we had in Milan. We all have to understand that, and we have to understand it quickly because time is running out for us this season.

“We need to understand what it takes to become champions if we want that trophy.

“If you look at the table now, I’m not saying we’re in trouble but we have lost our lead. So from now on we just have to think about ourselves, not look at the table any more. And we have to win every game.

“We need to have a high level of motivation from now until the end of the season. We have to give 200 percent.”

Arsenal still have to visit Chelsea and Manchester United in the league so in a sense, their destiny is still in their hands as eight victories would no doubt see them lift the Premier League trophy come May.

Manager Arsene Wenger has a real job on his hands to lift his players though after admitting that the atmosphere in the dressing room following the Boro draw was funereal.

“There was a big disappointment in the dressing-room,” Wenger said. “It was like a defeat.

“It is the flattest I have seen them after a game. We need to win the games now. We can do it, but first we want to turn our form around again, lift the spirits and focus on the next one.

“It will be very interesting on Sunday because we go to Chelsea and Manchester United play Liverpool as well, so we will have a better idea next Sunday night as to what will happen until the end of the season.”

Source:setanta

Arsenal V Middlesbrough

Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesbrough 15th March




Two Points dropped. This is the 4th consecutive draw in the league. The league title is slipping away from us now.
We needed to win after man utd scrapped through against derby.

Arsenal

Toure 86

Middlesbrough

Aliadiere 25

Mido s/o 88

Extras

Adebayor's goal is denied for offside


Eboue's cross hits the crossbar


Van Persie's ground shot just misses the left post


Schwarzer denies Fabregas from scoring Arsenal's first goal


Fabregas' header hits the left post



MOTD Highlights here


Match Reports here and here.

Wengers Post match reaction here and here

Wenger may unleash 'new signing' for Boro

"He is [like a new signing]," said Wenger. "He has only played the first eight games and scored five goals. At the time you thought that could make for an interesting total towards the end of the season. Now I feel he can give us the last push. He can give the final ball, take free kicks, he's dangerous on corners and, of course, he can score.

"We lost Eduardo recently, so the pressure was on Adebayor. But with Robin back and Theo Walcott aswell we now have three or four who can score and that's very important."

Despite the absence of Van Persie and latterly Eduardo, Arsenal have hardly struggled in front of goal. Their tally of 57 in the Premier League is one behind top-scorers Manchester United.

"Yes Adebayor has got 19 and we did not count for that at the start of the season," said Wenger. "But I was hopeful about him. However Hleb has got a few so has Eduardo and Fabregas. Rosicky got some as well, that is why I want him back from injury too. And Walcott is starting to score as well so that is all good for us."

Hleb: Arsenal better than in Paris

Hleb has outlined his team’s togetherness and hailed his manager, saying that Arsene Wenger is the man that can help them win every competition.

"We have got a very good chance [in the Champions League] this year," Hleb told UEFA Champions League Magazine.

"We are stronger now than when we reached the final in Paris. Even though we are quite a young team, we do have a lot of collective experience.

"With our squad, and with the manager we have leading us, we can achieve absolutely anything."

Robin out to remedy injury pain

“It has been very frustrating,” Van Persie told Arsenal TV. “I started the season with very big ideas, my ambition was very high and it still is.

“I have missed many games but I am thinking positive at the moment and I want to finish this season well with the team.

“I am happy to be back and am quite positive that we can win the league and the Champions League.”

Readily admitting that Arsenal’s recent form – which has seen consecutive draws with Birmingham, Aston Villa and Wigan – is far from desirable, Van Persie has urged his team-mates to embark on a winning streak to take the initiative back from Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I am happy to be back but it was a disappointing day to lose two points [at Wigan], and in the last three games we have lost six points in total and that is not good enough,” the striker added.

“We have lost six points so we have to get in there again and come back stronger because we still have nine games to play and it is vital. If Manchester United win their game in hand then we are one point behind them and we have to be sharp.

“There are big games coming up – Manchester United away, Liverpool at home, Chelsea and all the others as well. We need to win everything and that is our job at the moment.”

Wenger calls for calm

"It is tighter than ever," he said.

"We dropped two points (against Wigan) and we are going through a patch at the moment, we are a bit unlucky I feel. But the team is still focused.

"We want to remain calm and determined then we'll have a very good chance to do it."

Wenger could argue that the Gunners have been unfortunate not to take maximum points from their recent visits to Birmingham and Wigan, and he feels that the results prove just how difficult it can be to face those sides battling for their lives at the wrong end of the table.

"When you fight against teams who fight not to go down, like we did at Birmingham, they never give up," he said.

"If you do not make a difference early on then you are always under threat because if that happens the more their belief and determination grows during the game."

Wigan V Arsenal

Wigan 0 - 0 Arsenal 9th March


It was a stalemate. 2 points dropped.


You can download the highlights here.

MOTD highlights can be downloaded here.

You need a flv player to play this video, which can be downloaded here.



Match Report Here.

Wenger's Post Match comments here.

Emmanuel Adebayor: All down to team-mates

Emmanuel Adebayor, whose first Champions League goal was the cherry on the top of a dazzling Arsenal performance on Tuesday, admits that he and his team-mates were tormented by their 4-0 thrashing by Manchester United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford, not so much by the scoreline but by their lack of a performance. "That defeat was difficult for everyone," he says. ''You can imagine, that in our heads, we didn't know where we were after that. But we had to take it.

"Our draw with AC Milan at the Emirates gave us some of our confidence back and now our belief is really high. We have sent out a message to everybody. A week or so ago, people were putting us out of the Champions League and making us second or third in the Premier League. We responded to that by showing character and personality."

Adebayor understands that in football, a single result, however stunning, cannot stand on its own but has to be set against the rest of the season. "It would be a big mistake to draw or lose at Wigan," he says. ''We cannot even think about doing that after the win in the San Siro. It will be a tough game but we're ready for it and we have to think about getting three points in every game from now on."

"I am not the only one who has improved. So have Cesc [Fabregas] and [Mathieu] Flamini, Kolo [Toure] and [Emmanuel] Eboue.Without them, I'm nothing.They have made me the player I am today, the way I played at the San Siro. Every single day in training, they're telling me what I should be doing. Am I becoming a world-class player? I don't know. That's for others to judge. I am just doing what Arsenal ask me to do and enjoying myself on the pitch. I don't care about achieving individual things. The most important thing is to achieve things with the team, to win the Premier League and the Champions League."

"It was a big pressure for me when Thierry left but I stay easy-going and have fun on the pitch," he adds. ''I don't think of who I am replacing. I just do my job. My goal in the San Siro showed that I have to take it easy when the chances come. Before, I've hit the bar or the post but when that chance came, it was easy."

Adebayor - I owe Wenger

And speaking to Sky Sports News, he has admitted that his goals are a way of repaying the faith shown in him by Wenger after he struggled in the latter stages of his Monaco career.

"To pay him back is going to be very difficult," he told Sky Sports News.

"At Monaco, from June to December I scored only one goal in 19 games. How come Arsene Wenger came and looked for me?

"It is something special. He is the one who gave me a chance to become who I am today. I want to keep on enjoying myself and listening to him."

"We have the team, we have the quality. No doubt about that. We just have to take things game by game," he continued.

"At the moment we are in the quarter-finals and we do not know who we will be drawn against.

"But the most important thing is that we keep on enjoying ourselves."

Walcott and Diaby injured ahead of trip to Wigan

Arsenal have lost Diaby and Walcott for the weekend trip to Wigan.

The Frenchman injured his calf in the 2-0 win at Milan on Tuesday while the Englishman damaged his thigh in a behind-closed-doors game against Colorado Rapids on Thursday.

Robin van Persie played an hour in the same game and came through unscathed.

However Wenger is unsure whether the Dutchman will be able to start at the JJB Stadium. It is just possible that Kolo Toure and Alex Song could be back this weekend but, from Arsène Wenger's words to Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon, it seems pretty doubtful.

"From Tuesday night we lost Abou Diaby," remarked the manager. "He has got a problem on his other calf. Today we also lost Theo Walcott. He played against Colorado Rapids and he got a little thigh problem.

"Robin played an hour and he looks OK. But it looks early for him, he finished the game very tired today so I will have to analyse that. We have a little chance to get Kolo back in the squad and a little, little chance to get Song back."

"As for Tomas Rosicky, it is difficult to say. We hope he'll be back in 10 or 12 days."

Flamini - I want to be a part of new generation

"Like I have said before I am very happy here," said Flamini. "Every game I give more than
100 per cent and I love playing for this team. We are a new generation, we have to create a new history. I want to be part of this history so I hope I will be here for next season.

"At the moment my advisers they are talking with the Club so I really hope that everything will be OK. I cannot put a time on it. But I really want to stay here.

"Yes, Milan was a great game and I have more and more confidence now. But what is important for a player is to play and I am playing and game after game I am becoming more and more confident. I want to take more responsibility.

"I don't know if Milan was my best performance [for Arsenal] but my job is to work hard for the players who are a little bit more offensive than me. We are a team who are always going forward so it's very important to protect the defence, especially against a player like Kaka who was going forward very quickly so I was trying to protect the defenders.

"Yes my job was to keep him quiet, boss the midfield and win the maximum amount of balls to pass to Cesc and Alex because they are a little bit more offensive than me."

On Friday, Flamini reaches the grand old age of 24. Typically, the only present on his birthday list is three points on Sunday.

"It will be fantastic if we win at Wigan. We have to finish the job. It's fantastic to play in the Champions League and beat AC Milan but to come back in the Premier League to go to Wigan is not going to be easy. It's a tough game."

Flamini - There are no limits for this side now

"I'm going to say there's no limit [to how far we can go]," said the midfielder, 24 on Friday. "There are no limits because we are playing the Champions League to win it. We are playing the Premier League to win it too. So we are going to concentrate now. As you saw in the last two games to concentrate is very important at a very high level.

"Before this game everybody said that Arsenal was a young side with less experience. It's true we have less experience than Milan but we proved to everyone we have more experience [than people think].

"Two years ago we went to the Champions League Final. A lot of our players were in that team and we have added quality to that. We are stronger, we have more experience so I'm sure we will do a good job in the Champions League from now on."

There was a sense that Arsenal's entire season was in the balance on Tuesday night. They had seen their lead in the Premier League cut to one point and were facing a side that had reached the Final in three of the last five years.

"Of course to come here and beat the Champions League holders [is a boost]," said Flamini. "It was a great team performance. The spirit was fantastic especially in difficult moments. It made a difference. Everyone did a great job. We were all working for each other.

"I think we could have won the game in the first half because we had a lot of opportunities to score a goal and were a bit unlucky. But we pushed and pushed and pushed and finally we scored in the last 10 minutes. I think we deserved our victory.

"We were not especially nervous going into the game. It's true it was a little bit frustrating because on a big occasion like that if you cannot score then, at the end, you are under a little bit of pressure.

"But we knew we had the quality to score. In the first leg we had a lot of opportunities but didn't score. Tonight we did it, we pushed until the last minute and even scored a second one so overall it is a great victory, especially to come here in the San Siro. We are the first English team to win here at AC Milan. Now we are just going to enjoy this victory."

Fabregas - That goal was the best moment of my career

"It was one of the best moments of my career and I went straight to the boss because without him I would never have had the chance to play in a game like this," he said.

"Maybe I have not been at my best since my injury, but now I feel great once again. This performance has been very important for my confidence. After I had started the season so well and then had an injury, I was not playing the way I used to and I was a bit upset. I needed a performance like this.

"When you look back on your career, these are the nights you are going to remember.

"We have to be very proud of what we have done. We went over to our fans, and you could also see some of the Milan fans clapping. You could see they like this kind of football and that we played well.

"The Milan players all said: 'well done, we hope you win it now'. In Italy, they have a lot of respect."

But respect is not enough, Arsenal need to display the trophies their consistency deserves. Fabregas feel they are 'on order'.

"We only have a small squad and have had lots of injuries," he said. "However, now we have important players coming back, like Robin [van Persie] and maybe next week Tomas [Rosicky] and Kolo Toure. So it is all positive.

"Other teams now know if they let us play, we can be very dangerous. They close us down and defend, we have to try not to make mistakes and just play our own football.

"The spirit of the team is amazing, and we have to keep going. Now, though, we just have to be focussed on Sunday's game - we have to go to Wigan and win there."

Source:arsenal.com

AC Milan V Arsenal

AC Milan 0 - 2 Arsenal 4th March

Fabregas 84'

Adebayor 90+2' and here

Full Match

First Half

Second Half

Match Extras

Adebayor Shot

Diaby Shot

Fabregas hitting the post

Maldini Header

Pato Dribble

Pato Shot

Eboue Chance

Pirlo Freekick



Arsenal scored two late goals to become the first English side to beat Milan on home soil and knock the UEFA Champions League holders out of this season's competition.



Match Report here

Wengers Comments here and here

Wenger - We must force mistakes from Milan

According to Arsène Wenger, his side must be "dynamic, mobile and technical" if they are going to be the first English team to beat the Rossoneri at the San Siro.

"Experience will play a big part," said Wenger. " You do not expect Maldini to make beginner mistakes. But, on the other hand, you have to force him into mistakes by coming out with the attributes we have - that means being dynamic, mobile and technically very good.

"We are a young side but remember the life of this team started two years ago. In that time we have been to the Bernabeu, Juventus, and the Final against Barcelona. We are used to playing in big pressure and in big atmosphere."

Milan's home form has been patchy in domestic football this term. It took them until their ninth game, on January 13, to register a win and they could only draw with struggling Lazio at the weekend. At his pre-match press conference, Wenger sensed a weakness.

"Many teams have given them problems at the San Siro," he said. "But we are conscious they will raise their level for the game, because that is the quality of this team.

"Maybe they cannot compete now for the Italian championship and are now in trouble to get fourth place. They will struggle. It is a team who can choose this competition to raise themselves and on the day.

"But also we should be encouraged by the fact other teams have done reasonably well at the San Siro."

Fabregas - We will be stronger in the San Siro

“We are playing against a big team with a lot of medals in their pockets and it will be interesting to see how we respond to that,” he said. “We played quite well in the first leg at home and were a bit disappointed because we had occasions where we could have scored one or two.

“But that is football. Sometimes you have to come back stronger from these type of things.”

“We will play at the San Siro for the first time, and think we can do well if we play 100 per cent and maybe we can cause a surprise.”

And how exactly does Fabregas see Arsenal approaching the match?

“We will not change the way we play, because we always play offensive,” he continued. “So we do not mind what way they will play. We are young, but we are not scared of anything and we will play our game. You have always seen if we are winning or losing, we will never go to defend.

“We will always want to attack, because it is the way we like to play and enjoy playing. You take the risk that sometimes you will draw or lose, of course, but we enjoy it and any football fans should be proud there are teams like Arsenal who want to play football always, not to defend.

“We have experience in Europe and now we have to use it against a big team like Milan, which I am really looking forward to playing.”

Wenger names 18-man squad for Milan

Arsène Wenger has named the following 18-man squad for the UEFA Champions League clash with AC Milan.

The most notable absentee is Kolo Toure but Robin van Persie returns the the squad.

Jens LEHMANN (GK)
Abou DIABY
Bacary SAGNA
Cesc FABREGAS
Philippe SENDEROS
William GALLAS
Robin VAN PERSIE
Alexander HLEB
DENILSON
Mathieu FLAMINI
GILBERTO
Gael CLICHY
Manuel ALMUNIA (GK)
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR
Nicklas BENDTNER
Emmanuel EBOUE
Justin HOYTE
Theo WALCOTT

Source:arsenal.com

Gary Lewin - Eduardo is well on the mend now

What exactly was the injury, as there were conflicting reports in the papers?

He had an open fracture of the fibula, and he had a dislocated ankle. Both have now been repaired surgically and at the moment it looks successful. It was a very bad one, but saying that it could have been worse. Of course it could have been a lot better, and only time will tell just how bad it is.

How did the operation itself go?

It went really well. The professor at Selly Oak Hospital did a great job, it all went smoothly. Eduardo stabilised on Sunday, then transferred to London. We checked him out with our people on Monday, and he stayed in hospital until Wednesday. So the surgery went really well. He’s well on the mend now and the only cause for concern is if he gets any infection, because it was an open fracture. The crucial part now is the next two weeks. If we can get through that without infection, and all the signs so far are very good, then we can start the rehab and the long road to recovery.

Read the full interview here

First pic of Eduardo on the mend

"The crucial part is the next two weeks.

"If we can get through that without infection, and all the signs are very good, then we can start the rehab and the long road to recovery."

"I remember the pain, seeing that my foot had rotated, but I only recaptured my senses in hospital.

"I had to spend my 25th birthday in there on Monday and it was a very sad day."

"All I could do was look at his face — I was totally pre-occupied," admitted Eduardo.

"I wanted to believe what Taylor said and to think that what happened was an unfortunate accident.

"I had to look at him. I could not understand how anyone could make a tackle like that in only the third minute of a game.

"But in the end I believed that Taylor was sincere and I accepted his excuses.

"Even though he had destroyed my season it would be incredible to think that what he did was pre-meditated."

"Euro 2008 was a big dream. To qualify was one of the best moments in my life but I am only 25 and I can play in other Euros. That's what is in my head.

"Croatia national coach Slaven Bilic and my international team-mates have called and their support is enormous. I am happy about that.

"And my Arsenal team-mates have promised to win the league title for me. That, too, is very emotive.

"At Arsenal we have the team to be champions. All season we have suffered injuries but are still at the top.

"So I hope that my absence will not affect the team.

"We have a sensational attack and now Robin van Persie is returning soon.

"The rehab will be difficult but, as each day goes by, I am closer to playing for Arsenal again.

"I need to be in plaster for nearly eight weeks and for six months it will only be possible to exercise with little movement.

"I have suffered. But a week ago I looked at the future with fear.

"Already the situation is better."

You can read more about it here

Arsenal v Astom Villa

Arsenal 1 - 1 Astom Villa

Arsenal

Bendtner 90'

Aston Villa

Senderos 27 (og)

Match Extras

Maloney Shot that hit the bar

Fabregas's chance just before the break

Walcott's chance

Flamini shot

Match Report Here

Gallas reveals St Andrews anger

The Arsenal captain, writing in his matchday programme notes ahead of the game with Aston Villa, said: "Maybe it should not have been a penalty against us at the end, but the referee whistled for it so there is nothing you can do - that is difficult to accept.

"I was very angry at the end of the game, very angry because I am a passionate man and I know how difficult it is to win the title.

"I was angry about a lot of things, nothing in particular but everything which happened that day had built up.

"We dropped two points in the last minute, and if we go on to become champions this season, it will not matter - but if we don't win it, everybody will look at those games against Birmingham.

"We made a mistake and it is difficult to answer how much that will hurt us until the end of the season."