The Hindu : Sport / Football : Arsenal faces big test

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Friday, Apr 09, 2004

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Sport - Football

Arsenal faces big test

LONDON, APRIL 8. A week ago, Arsenal was cruising toward a sweep of three trophies. Now, the Gunners are in danger of winning nothing.

Knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and the Champions League by Chelsea in the space of four days, the Gunners face a huge test on Friday when they host fourth-place Liverpool in the Premier League.

Arsenal's advantage has been cut to four points with eight games to go. Second-place Chelsea is making a strong challenge to grab the title.

With the Gunners facing another big game at fifth-place Newcastle on Sunday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is under pressure to lift his team after the two losses and previous draws with Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Gunners, unbeaten so far in a record 30 league games since the start of the season, haven't won in four matches.

``We have to regroup. There is only the league left and so we have to show how strong we are,'' said team captain Patrick Vieira, whose team lost 1-0 to United in the FA Cup and 2-1 at home to Chelsea in the Champions League.

``Of course, there is disappointment, but we have to forget the last two games as quickly as possible and the next two games are important for us.''

Adding to Arsenal's woes is the uncertain status of star striker Thierry Henry. Wenger had said he would miss both games after picking up an apparent hamstring injury against Chelsea. But Henry said he actually has a back problem and hopes to be available.

``I want to play so much,'' he said. ``The games are very important to us and I want to be out there. The plan is for me to have more treatment and a test of my fitness a few hours before the match against Liverpool.''

Less than a week ago Arsenal appeared on course for the elusive treble of the domestic league, FA Cup and Champions League titles. According to Vieira, the Gunners are more determined than ever to make sure they don't lose the league too.

``The desire is still there,'' he said. ``We're hurt after losing these two games and it's about how we react as a team. We are really strong and now we have to show how strong we are. We have no choice. We have to win something, we deserve to win something.''

Liverpool, chasing a fourth-place finish and Champions League spot, is coming off a 4-0 victory over Blackburn in which Michael Owen scored twice and Emile Heskey also hit the target.

Heskey, who hopes to secure a place on England's Euro 2004 squad, believes Liverpool will be able to take advantage of the Gunners' sudden crisis.

``It could be a good time to play them,'' the burly striker said. ``Over the past week they have shown they can be beaten and it would be good for us if we could become the first team to beat them in the league.

``We will go there full of optimism because we know we are playing well at the moment. We had a great win over Blackburn last weekend and there's a real confidence in our camp at the moment.''

If Liverpool becomes the first team to beat Arsenal in the league, Chelsea has the chance to cut the Gunners' lead to one point by beating Middlesbrough at home on Saturday. Claudio Ranieri's team has played one game more, however.

Third-place Manchester United is 12 points off the lead and knows the chance of holding on to its title has effectively gone. Alex Ferguson's team, which visits Birmingham on Saturday, has virtually guaranteed a Champions League place and is a strong favourite to beat division one Millwall in the May 22 FA Cup final.

Friday's other game is Everton-Tottenham. On Saturday, it's Blackburn-Leeds; Bolton-Aston Villa; Charlton-Portsmouth; Leicester-Fulham, and Manchester City-Wolverhampton. — AP

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