Camden New Journal - Sports: Gunners lack defensive serenity

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Camden New Journal - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 27 March 2008

Gunners lack ‘defensive serenity’

With the league slipping out of reach, Wenger looks for cool heads at the back

ARSENAL chief Arsene Wenger has been around long enough to know that anything can happen in the final knockings of a Premiership title race – but optimism is beginning to run thin.
The odd staple from the Wenger press conference vocabulary about ‘spirit’ and ‘belief’ were still being used on Sunday night but the Gunners boss has changed his tone.
Before the weekend, he was insisting his team would win the league. Defeat at Chelsea has made that look unlikely.
Wenger warned his young charges that they must tighten up their defence if they want to stand any chance of hanging onto Manchester United and Chelsea’s coat-tails.
He said: “The players were very disappointed because they gave everything but went home without any points. Our spirit was right and our mentality was fantastic.
“Overall the team played very well against Chelsea but, at the moment, I feel we have some defensive problems which we need to sort out. We got caught on the long balls and the physical battle.”
Uncharacteristically, captain William Gallas and Kolo Toure were caught out as Chelsea came from behind to snatch the points.
Wenger has seen his team’s five-point lead at the top evaporate in a flurry of draws and defeat in the derby.
“I believe we have the strength but at the moment we are six points behind Manchester United.
“We have to win against Bolton this weekend to get back on track. We have to show our strength. We need a bit more defensive authority. We were not serene enough defensively.”

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