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Posts Tagged ‘emirates’

• Arsenal left-back says next game can be new start
• Clichy admits they did not play well against Chelsea

Gaël Clichy has refused to rule Arsenal out of the title race despite the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea which leaves Arsène Wenger’s team nine points behind the Premier League leaders, and said their challenge must restart at the Emirates on Wednesday.

“Let’s work on it, next we play against a good side in Liverpool,” said Clichy. “It’s going to be difficult but we have to do it because if we want to be the best, we have to compete. We have to think game after game and it starts with Liverpool. We have to think one game at a time but the less we lose, the better it will be.

“The rule in sport is when you want to be the best, after every defeat you have to ask the right questions to yourself and the team. You have to go again and dig in. That is what we are going to start doing again in training because it is only with hard work and a bit of luck that things can happen. Maybe then we can go somewhere.”

Reflecting on the defeat at Stamford Bridge, the French left-back said: “It is even more complicated now to win the league but we have to keep fighting. We have seen everyone can drop points against anyone. Of course, it would have been better to win [against Chelsea] and against Manchester United, but that is the way it is. We need to be more decisive in the right moments and the best thing to do is to carry on fighting.

“Its not going to be easy, but it is not finished. We were 11 points behind [after Chelsea defeated Arsenal 3-0 in late November] and came back so we have to hope they drop points and make sure we don’t drop any points.”

The defeat to United came at the Emirates the week before last, when Arsenal enjoyed possession yet failed to produce an attacking threat. Against Chelsea they were again unable to convert pressure into goals, which is a prevailing criticism of the Frenchman’s side.

But while Wenger claimed the better team had lost, yesterday Clichy contradicted his manager’s view.

“You cannot say you played well when you lose 2-0 but we tried everything. We pushed hard today but we lost and it is hard to take. It is always difficult to play against Chelsea because even if you have the ball and you feel like you are playing better than them, they let you play but they have a strong striker up front in [Didier] Drogba, who can play alone for the 90 minutes,” he said.

ArsenalLiverpoolChelseaPremier LeagueJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk

• Italian included in Reds squad for Emirates fixture
• ‘I really want to play. I know the time will come for me’

Alberto Aquilani could make his Liverpool first-team debut in the Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Arsenal after being included in the squad to travel to north London. The £20million Italian midfielder has been fully involved in Liverpool’s training this week and looks set to feature at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

Aquilani played for 15 minutes of a reserve match last week, having been recovering from a knee operation since his arrival at the club in the summer. The former Roma player is relishing the prospect of playing a part in Liverpool’s season, having witnessed the atmosphere at Anfield for Sunday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United.

“It was incredible to be at the stadium on Sunday,” said Aquilani. “It was one of the best games I have seen so far. I don’t normally like to watch a match inside a stadium when I am not playing, but I really enjoyed Sunday.

“When I was in Rome, although the stadium was bigger, it did not have the same atmosphere as here. Because the fans are closer to the pitch at Anfield, you can feel the atmosphere better. It was very important to win against United and hopefully it can give us more confidence.”

While the 25-year-old acknowledges he is still short of match fitness, he is already relishing the prospect of a first-team bow, with the manager, Rafael Benítez, likely to make a decision on the level of his involvement tomorrow.

“It was good to play for the reserves because I haven’t played for a long time,” he said. “But to play for the first team is something different again and I am looking forward to that. I really want to play, but I need to be patient, I know the time will come for me. I will be very happy when I make my debut. This is my job, it’s what I am here to do, and I am looking forward to it.”

With his first-team debut finally on the horizon, Aquilani was keen to thank his fellow players and the staff at the club’s Melwood training ground for helping him settle into life on Merseyside.

“I want to thank all the players and the people at the club because they have been very helpful to me since I arrived here,” he added. “Obviously as Andrea Dossena is here and speaks Italian, he has helped me, but I want to take the opportunity to thank every player.

“It has been difficult, but now I want to build up my confidence and I hope to bring out the best of my game here.”

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