Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Wenger may opt for a ‘different formula’
STRIKER Danny Welbeck could make the Arsenal squad for the first time this season against Leicester City tomorrow, but manager Arsene Wenger hinted yesterday that defender Per Mertesacker would not start against the league leaders.
Welbeck has been sidelined since April with a knee injury while Mertesacker last played for the Gunners in the 1-0 loss to Chelsea on January 24.
Leicester have great pace on the break and Wenger said he was likely to continue with his two quickest centre backs, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista.
“I think sometimes I use a different formula,” Wenger said. “Per Mertesacker is a great leader, but I have three centre backs and I adapt a little bit to their form, to the number of games they’ve played as well as to the opponent – what is their strength and where they can hurt us.”
The Frenchman also confirmed that long-term injury absentees Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere would be challenging for a place in the squad in the next three to four weeks.
Arsenal snapped a threegame winless streak in the league when they beat Bournemouth 2-0 on Sunday.
“I believe there is still a long way to go,” Wenger added.
“We didn’t win for a while so of course the pressure on the team was a little bit stronger. It was very important for us to win on Sunday and I think we are back to our normal level. We have to get the momentum back. We want to find consistency in our results for the season.”
● The unpredictable nature of the Premier League this season means it is essential for Manchester City to beat second- placed Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow to keep their title aspirations alive, right back Bacary Sagna said.
Saturday’s 3-1 loss to leaders Leicester left Manuel Pellegrini’s team without a win over any of the top-six sides this season and six points behind the Foxes with 13 games remaining.
City, who are fourth, head into tomorrow’s clash knowing a win would lift them above Spurs. “It is essential we beat Tottenham like it will be essential for us to beat other teams in the future,” Sagna said.
“If you want to be the champion you have to beat everyone because it’s a strange league this year.
EPL fixtures
( All games 5pm SA time unless stated) Today Sunderland v Manchester United, Stadium of Light, 2.45pm, Swansea City v Southampton, Liberty Stadium, Norwich City v West Ham United, Carrow Road, Everton v West Bromwich Albion, Goodison Park, Crystal Palace v Watford, Selhurst Park, Bournemouth v Stoke City, Vitality Stadium, Chelsea v Newcastle United, Stamford Bridge, 7.30pm. Tomorrow Arsenal v Leicester City, Emirates Stadium, 2pm, Aston Villa v Liverpool Villa Park, 4.05pm, Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur, Etihad Stadium, 6.15pm
“Back in the day, whenever you were playing a lower team on paper, you could be quietly confident. Nowadays, everyone can beat everyone, so we don’t have an excuse.”
City striker Sergio Aguero, though, enjoys playing Spurs, the explosive Argentine notching up 10 goals in eight games against the North London side.
Aguero said he was not looking to avenge City’s 4-1 defeat by Mauricio Pochettino’s men earlier in the season. “It’s not a matter of payback, though it was painful to lose in such a way,” he told the club’s website. – Reuters