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We'll bounce back: Vieira
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes the Gunners will bounce back from their heartbreaking FA Cup and Champions League exits by landing the Premiership title.
The latest round takes place on Friday when Arsenal welcome Liverpool to Highbury where a win will restore their seven-point lead but it will be the first of a testing programme of matches over the Easter period. After Liverpool, it will be a trip north to face Newcastle. "We have to re-group. There is only the league left and so we have to show how strong we are," said Vieira. "Of course, there is disappointment, but we have to forget the last two games as quickly as possible and the next two games are important for us. "The desire is still there. We're hurt after losing these two games and it's about how we react as a team. We are really strong and now we have to show how strong we are - we have no choice. "We have to win something, we deserve to win something and winning the league would still be good. "We are going to get hammered for losing and we have to accept it. When you are winning, people put you up. When you are losing, they put you down. "That is the way football is. What is important is how we react. We are used to being hammered and we're going to handle it properly." However, Vieira's optimism has been tempered by signs that the gruelling English season is beginning to take its toll with Arsenal set to be without Thierry Henry, who injured his hamstring in the Champions League quarter-final defeat against Chelsea, as well as Fredrik Ljungberg, who is a renewed doubt with his broken hand. Wenger could recall Sylvain Wiltord, who has returned after being out injured since December, while Dennis Bergkamp and Gilberto Silva will also be hoping for recalls. Just like Chelsea, Liverpool arrive at Highbury with plenty to prove with a placed in next season's Champions League at stake but their England striker Michael Owen has praised Arsenal for setting the benchmark in the Premier League. "Looking at the Premier League over the last few years, I would definitely say we have not got worse as a team," said Owen. "But I think the likes of Arsenal have just improved no end. No-one can tell me that the Arsenal team we are watching now is playing the same as the previous five years. "Sure it has been built up but the football they are playing now is better than they have ever played, and they are stretching away from everyone. Even Manchester United. "As much as everyone is getting better and better, Arsenal have just gone faster than anyone else." At Goodison Park, Everton will try to put an end to their lingering relegation fears with victory over Tottenham but they will again be missing strikers Duncan Ferguson and Wayne Rooney who are suspended. Everton lost 4-2 at Newcastle on Saturday and their Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo insists that they have to erase their defensive errors if they are to escape the relegation trap door. "As defenders, I think we let the team down through our mistakes on Saturday," said Yobo. "Things like that happen in football but we really don't need them to at the moment and we need to put things right against Tottenham." |
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