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Ding-dong derby will be ‘moment of truth’
Arsenal chief says Tottenham game is time to bag points
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has described this Saturday’s ding-dong derby match with Spurs as a “moment of truth” for his team.
The Gunners chief said he has no problem with the way his team is playing – but has warned it is time to get some points on the board.
Defeats away against Fulham and Bolton looked to have brought to an end Arsenal’s title hopes as Chelsea and Man Utd both moved clear at the top.
Wenger said: “The period that comes up for us now is the moment of truth. We are in front of an obstacle we must jump. We don’t hide and I feel the team are ready to make that jump. I want these players and this team to perform at their full potential and I think it’s in there and down to me to get it out of them.”
Tottenham would love to be the first team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium having failed to secure an away win against the old enemy in more than 12 years of trying. Spurs will hope Arsenal have one eye on next Wednesday’s Champions League fixture with Porto – in which they need a draw to qualify for the knockout stages. After that, Arsenal travel to Chelsea in a hectic fortnight for Wenger.
He said: “We do not have a basic problem apart from the fact we do not have enough points – and that is a big problem. There is no team beyond our reach in England. When you have quality, you always have a chance.”
Meanwhile, Martin Jol faces a selection headache as he prepares his team. The Spurs boss has not played the same two front men in the past five fixtures, switching between Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Mido.
With Mido out with a groin injury, he now has to choose between Defoe or Keane.
He denied running a rotation system with his strike force.
Jol said: “I will choose who plays on the strength of how people look in training. That is what I do. I think about who looks sharpest and then they go forward. It is as simple as that.” |
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