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Gael Clichy: Arsenal Can Still Win The Premier League
United and Chelsea can still drop points, Frenchman reckons...
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Feb 8, 2010 4:23:00 PM
By James Daly
Despite sitting nine points behind leaders Chelsea, Arsenal defender Gael Clichy believes his side still have a chance of Premier League glory and has urged his team-mates to "dig in" until the end of the season.
The Gunners lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Saturday all-but ending their championship hopes, but Clichy doesn't think the game is up yet.
It was the Frenchman who had a torrid afternoon against Nani as Manchester United won 3-1 at the Emirates last week, and the left-back also let in Didier Drogba to score Chelsea's second on Saturday.
"It is even more complicated now to win the league but we have to keep fighting until the end," Clichy said on Arsenal's official website.
"We have seen since the start of the season, everyone can drop points against anyone. Of course, it would have been better to win [on Sunday] and against Man United but that is the way it is.
"We have to keep going. We need to be more decisive in the right moments and the best thing to do is to carry on fighting."
Clichy's mind is perhaps clouded by the memory of the 11-point deficit the Gunners surmounted in November after seemingly falling out of the title race. That 10-game unbeaten run took them back to the Premier League summit.
"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," Clichy added.
"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."
Having faced the league's top two in recent weeks, the fixture list will now offer Gunners a few favours, with the visit of Liverpool on Wednesday night the only tough test this month.
United and Chelsea must both face teams in the top seven and each other before the end of the season.
"We don’t have to look for a long run - we have to think game after game and it starts with Liverpool," Clichy added.
"We have to think one game at a time but the less we lose, the better it will be.
"It is not going to be easy but it is not finished. We were 11 points behind and came back so we have to hope they [Chelsea and United] drop points and make sure we don’t drop any points.
"Let’s work on it, next we play against a good side in Liverpool. It is going to be difficult but we have to do it because if we want to be the best we have to compete."
The Gunners lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Saturday all-but ending their championship hopes, but Clichy doesn't think the game is up yet.
It was the Frenchman who had a torrid afternoon against Nani as Manchester United won 3-1 at the Emirates last week, and the left-back also let in Didier Drogba to score Chelsea's second on Saturday.
"It is even more complicated now to win the league but we have to keep fighting until the end," Clichy said on Arsenal's official website.
"We have seen since the start of the season, everyone can drop points against anyone. Of course, it would have been better to win [on Sunday] and against Man United but that is the way it is.
"We have to keep going. We need to be more decisive in the right moments and the best thing to do is to carry on fighting."
Clichy's mind is perhaps clouded by the memory of the 11-point deficit the Gunners surmounted in November after seemingly falling out of the title race. That 10-game unbeaten run took them back to the Premier League summit.
"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," Clichy added.
"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."
Having faced the league's top two in recent weeks, the fixture list will now offer Gunners a few favours, with the visit of Liverpool on Wednesday night the only tough test this month.
United and Chelsea must both face teams in the top seven and each other before the end of the season.
"We don’t have to look for a long run - we have to think game after game and it starts with Liverpool," Clichy added.
"We have to think one game at a time but the less we lose, the better it will be.
"It is not going to be easy but it is not finished. We were 11 points behind and came back so we have to hope they [Chelsea and United] drop points and make sure we don’t drop any points.
"Let’s work on it, next we play against a good side in Liverpool. It is going to be difficult but we have to do it because if we want to be the best we have to compete."
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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