Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger is looking forward to return to Stamford Bridge
this weekend despite the Gunners' 6-0 hammering at the hands of the Blues last
season. What should be even more frightening for Wenger is that Chelsea is an
even better team this season, and Arsenal with all their injured first teamers
could be in line for another beating.
However, Wenger isn't one to
dwell on the past and said as much in his pre-match press conference today. The
Frenchman remarked, "Last year's slow start exposed us to
counter-attacks. It was a very bad memory but football is not made of history,
it's performance."
Wenger added, "We want
to go to Chelsea to win. The fact they are six points ahead makes that desire
even bigger. We are both still unbeaten but I feel we have had a more difficult
run than them. It's a vital game for us to stay in the race."
Wenger's motivation may be fair,
but Arsenal will need to keep one eye on their opposition this weekend as their
lack of pace in defence and poor ability on setplays can get cruelly exposed
once again by a Chelsea side that is ridiculously well drilled and very
methodical in their approach.
When quizzed about taking on his
arch nemesis Jose Mourinho, Wenger refused to be drawn into
battle, "He has always had fantastic teams. It's not a game between
two managers, it's a game about clubs."
And of course, the inevitable
question of taking on his former protege Cesc Fabregas was handled just as well
by Wenger, who said, "It was his decision. When he left we bought
Ozil - we did not need to buy attacking players. Everyone respects Cesc here
and I want him to get the reception he deserves on Sunday."
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