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Showing posts with label Players. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Players. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger calls on players to 'give every drop of blood' in Premier League title-chase


The Gunners boss has rallied his squad to bounce back from Sunday's draw with a win against Tottenham adding that they must show the 'mental dimension' to play for the club

by watchersNplayers

20 Apr 2011 08:25:00

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal(Getty Images)
Arsene Wenger, Arsenal(Getty Images)

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has rallied his players to 'give every drop of blood' to stay in contention for the Premier League title ahead of Wednesday's crucial match against bitter rivals Tottenham.

The Gunners were left bitterly disappointed on Sunday after conceding an injury time equaliser to Liverpool as they aim to catch leaders Manchester United, who are seven points ahead following Tuesday night's 0-0 draw with Newcastle.

And after exiting the Champions League and losing the League Cup final, the pressure is firmly on Wenger's teamto get back to winning ways with six games left to play in the league.

He told Arsenal TV Online: "We want to continue to develop, stay in the top four and, after, get close to Manchester United to still have a chance to win this Premier League.

"I still believe it is absolutely important, essential that we give absolutely every drop of blood to do it."

Wenger reflected on Sunday's result and said he wanted his team to show the strength of character to bounce back with a win against Tottenham.

"It was difficult to swallow, the equaliser [against Liverpool], but you look forward and you want to put it right again in the next game - that is what our job is about," he added.

"When you play at Arsenal, you need to have the mental dimension to deal with that.

"We are on a 15-game unbeaten run and we want to continue that. Maybe, you never know, it will be a point that will be helpful at the end of the season."

The manager, who gave the interview on the club's TV channel after cancelling his press conference on Tuesday, said that playing Tottenham would give his side the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways.


Mind games | Wenger has called on his young team to show mental strength

"We always play good games against Spurs, and played very well in September in the Carling Cup," he said.

"We will play our game, don't worry. We want to show we have the mental dimension to play for this club.

"The players want to show that and there is no better way to do that than against Spurs."

The Frenchman insisted, however that he had not set a points target for the remainder of the season.

He concluded: "Let's give absolutely everything to win this one. We are not in a period where we can calculate. I believe it is important that we give absolutely everything to win our next game."

Tottenham Star Rafael Van Der Vaart Says Inexperience Is Costing Arsenal


The Dutchman who has impressed in his first season at White Hart Lane believes Spurs can complete a historic double against their title-chasing north London rivals
By watchersNplayers



Tottenham Hotspur, Rafael van der Vaart
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Rafael Van der VaartTottenham star Rafael van der Vaart says a lack of experience is costing Arsenal in the biggest games ahead of Wednesday night's crucial north London derby.

The 28 year-old Dutchman who moved to White Hart Lane in the summer from Real Madrid said he feels confident that Tottenham could complete a league double of their arch rivals.

"Arsenal have a young team," he told talkSPORT. "That's the problem with a young team - once, you play fantastic, but in the other games, maybe the most important games, you drop points.

"They still have a fantastic team. It will be an open game. But we showed at the Emirates a few months ago that we can beat them.

Van der Vaart, who was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year prize won by his team-mate Gareth Bale on Sunday evening, said Spurs were keen on returning to top level European football next season.

He added: "It's not going to be easy. We have to win all our games and this is one of the most difficult games of the year. But we want to play in the Champions League next year."

The attacking midfielder inspired his team to a memorable 3-2 win at the Emirates in November.