ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:ARSENE WENGER has been handed a major boost in Arsenal's bid to win the Premier League title with several of his players returning from injury before tomorrow's visit of Blackburn Rovers.
Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Alex Song and Abou Diaby are back, while Wenger is optimistic that Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey will be able to take part.
“They will be available,” the Arsenal manager said regarding Fabregas, who has recovered from his latest hamstring problem, Walcott (ankle), Song (knee) and Diaby (groin). “I have not decided if they will start the game yet but they will all be available.
“Van Persie has a good chance, too. He has a final assessment tomorrow but we believe he will be fit. It is a bruised knee. Nicklas Bendtner is in the same situation. He will have a test tomorrow on his ankle and we’ll see. In fact, we have a few players with tests tomorrow – Ramsey with his groin, Bendtner, Van Persie. I will make a decision after training in the morning.”
Van Persie also took a blow to his thigh while playing for the Netherlands in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Hungary, while Bendtner’s injury came on international duty for Denmark.
Wenger said that beyond his long-term injured – who include Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Wojciech Szczesny and Thomas Vermaelen – only Denilson is definitely unavailable. Arsenal hope to maintain the pressure on Manchester United, who are five points clear at the top.
Wenger added: “We just have Denilson out. It is short-term. We have one or two players with question marks but all the other players will be available.”
With Arsenal having won only one of their past six matches, Sebastien Squillaci has called on the squad to show their quality. He said: “It is a bit of a bad time that we’re having but we have all got to get our chins up and show our mettle against Manchester United for the title. That’s the remaining target now and we’ve got to give everything for the cause.”
Meanwhile, Gerard Houllier believes that he retains the complete backing of the Aston Villa chairman, Randy Lerner, despite the club’s precarious position one point above the relegation zone and mounting unrest from the supporters. The Villa manager was in defiant mood ahead of tomorrow’s game at Everton and insisted that he does not feel under any pressure.
He spoke of his unwavering belief in his methods as well as his confidence that the players at his disposal have the talent and mental strength to drag the club clear of the bottom three. The Frenchman said stories of player mutiny because of alleged changes to a club rulebook were “completely untrue”.
Although there is a sense that the next two fixtures – Newcastle visit Villa Park a week on Sunday – are critical, Houllier has no doubt that Lerner is behind him. Asked whether the chairman’s support was as strong ever, he replied: “I think so. In fact I’m convinced of that. We know what we are going through and we know that we need the forces of everybody. And I think the team knows that. It’s important to be in a club where there is strong belief.”
Houllier said that the key to survival is galvanising everyone connected with the club and he warned that any player not buying into that approach will be moved on. “If someone is not with us and is not giving more than 100 per cent, he’s got to leave because he won’t make it,” he said.
Houllier has been forced to deal with a number of off-field issues during his six-month reign but he rejected suggestions that he has implemented a new code of conduct in the wake of the fracas involving Richard Dunne and James Collins a fortnight ago that has led to senior players rebelling.
“That is absolutely untrue. You can even ask the players,” Houllier said. “I didn’t mention anything even after the incident.
“Regarding the mobile phones, I spoke about this the first day I came and that was it. They’re very reasonable because there is no mobile phone used in the changing room and I don’t go and check. And I’ve never put a fine on a player who’s been late. I hate fines.
“The second thing is that the set of rules is something that was given by the PFA. I was not even aware of that. And it was given before the Bolton game because they needed to make a change because they needed the doctor’s name and his mobile number.”
* Guardian Service