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Wenger: Arshavin to lead Arsenal charge!
Arsene Wenger feels Andrey
Arshavin can help drive Arsenal on towards their first Barclays Premier
League title since 2004.
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Andrey Arshavin Photo espnstar.com
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The enigmatic midfielder - signed from Zenit St Petersburg
during January 2009 - was distraught after Russia failed to make the World
Cup finals, suffering a shock defeat to Slovenia in the play-offs.
Arshavin's form and fitness suffered towards the end of the campaign,
which Wenger puts down to the frustrations of not being able to showcase
his talents on the biggest stage of all in South Africa.
However, now the Gunners boss wants to see the 29-year-old at his very
best as he prepares for a trip to Liverpool - where Arshavin has scored
five goals in his previous two appearances, including his side's four
in an eight-goal thriller.
"It was a massive blow for him to go out of the World Cup with Russia,
and he had an end of season which was disturbed by many injuries,"
said the Arsenal boss, who today signed a new three-year extension to
his contract.
"What I expect from him is he remains completely fit, gives the team
everything - with his creative side, he can be decisive, create chances
and score goals, that is what you want from him."
Summer signing Laurent Koscielny is set for his Premier League debut in
defence at Anfield. With Johan Djourou sidelined by a hamstring problem,
Arsenal are lacking cover at centre-half following the departures of veterans
Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre at the end of their
contracts.
Wenger has been linked with a number of players, including Everton's Phil
Jagielka, Bosnia captain Emir Spahic, Stuttgart defender Serdar Tasci
and German international Per Mertesacker.
The Gunners boss is also said to be on the lookout for a new keeper, with
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer set on a move across London despite Arsenal
having a £2million bid rejected earlier in the summer.
Wenger, though, will go with what he has at Anfield.
"We are looking around, but at the moment nothing will happen before
the match, so it will be Koscielny and Vermaelen who will start,"
Wenger said.
"What is important for us is to focus on what we have, make a good
result on Sunday and then we will see if we still bring some players in
or not."
Wenger - who looks set to agree a new deal to extend his contract - believes
the Gunners have unfinished business in the title race, having failed
to last the course last term.
"We have a little bit of a sour taste, because at the beginning of
April we were two points behind the leaders and then dropped some points,"
he said.
"This team gave a lot last year, but we want to improve from that
and I believe we can."
Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "I am hopeful we can continue our
progress, we have kept our captain and overall the team has improved since
two years ago.
"Liverpool is a good opportunity to show we are ready to fight for
the Premier League. You know you will go into a game where maximum concentration
will be demanded.
"We must concentrate on our own performance, what is in our own hands.
"We are encouraged by a good pre-season and so it is important we
go there with the needed belief and fire on all cylinders."
Despite Manchester City's summer spending spree, Wenger believes the top
two will again be the teams to beat.
"Having seen the Charity Shield, you expect Manchester United and
Chelsea to be in there again, but it could be a race between six or seven
teams," he said.
"It is important to be consistent, to win the big games, to start
strong and get the needed confidence.
"You could say we have an advantage because we know each other well
and how we want to play."
World Cup finalists Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie might be involved
tomorrow if judged fully match-fit, while summer signing Marouane Chamakh,
who could have joined Liverpool, is expected to make his debut after a
free transfer from Bordeaux.
Espnstar.com,
14th August 2010
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