adminLONDON. — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is not concerned by the timing of their English Premier League game with Manchester City.Wenger’s side go into today’s lunch-time game five points clear at the top of the table knowing they will face a tough test of their title credentials at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has voiced his concerns at having to play again so soon after their 2-0 defeat away to Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The midfielder said: “The mood will be fine, but the recovery time is very tight. I don’t understand why we play Sunday afternoon, then in Naples on Wednesday, getting back to London at four o’clock in the morning (on Thursday) and then we are going to play again on Saturday morning in Manchester.
“However, there is not much we can do, so we just have to prepare well and be ready for it because they will be ready for us as they rested several players for their European game on Tuesday night.
“However, there can be no excuses, we have to be ready, we want to win there and have to be prepared. We know it can be a big statement if we get a good result there, so that is what we want.”
But Wenger insists the kick-off time could work to their favour, with a positive result in the lunch-time fixture helping to pile pressure on the chasing pack.
“I think we have an opportunity to make the difference by playing first tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t complain about the timing of the fixtures, we don’t use it as an excuse.
“When you play Wednesday night and Saturday morning you cannot do a lot in training. It’s mostly recovery.”
Wenger also revealed he would not trade his squad with that of City, defending the club’s traditionally prudent stance and insisting Arsenal have a more versatile side than their opponents.
“City has a strong squad, I don’t deny that, but when I look at my squad I don’t envy them,” he added. “We have more creative players and we are more versatile. It’s easier for me to rotate.
“City have gone a different way. What our policy shows is we have consistency in our attitude and results. “We respect our income and expenses but we have better resources now.”
As for the game itself, Wenger revealed that defender Bacary Sagna will undergo a fitness test to assess his hamstring injury. Striker Lukas Podolski is available after recovering from a similar problem but he may not be risked, while there was a positive update on Theo Walcott following his recent return to action after a stomach injury.
“Sagna will have a test today (yesterday). Podolski is available but I feel he is a bit short,” said Wenger. “It took Walcott a while to get back to full power but he is looking stronger this week.”
While Arsenal hope to cement their position at the top, fourth-placed City can’t afford to lose their 100 percent home record if they want to stay in touch with the leaders.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team are already six points behind Arsenal thanks to some disappointing results on their travels and England midfielder James Milner concedes this weekend’s match will have a major influence on City’s hopes of regaining the title they won in 2012.
Elsewhere, second-placed Liverpool, five points behind Arsenal, travel to Tottenham with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet demanding his teammates step up in the absence of inspirational captain Steven Gerrard. Jose Mourinho repeated his call for more goals from his strikers ahead of third-placed Chelsea’s meeting with Crystal Palace.
Mourinho’s side are five points adrift of the Gunners following last weekend’s surprise loss at Stoke and they were less than impressive again in a midweek win over Steaua Bucharest.
Demba Ba got the winner against Steaua but Mourinho has demanded more from the Senegal striker, who has just three goals in all competitions this season.
Manchester United, without a win in their last four league matches and 13 points behind Arsenal, have no margin for error as they head to Aston Villa on the back of two successive league defeats.
Fixtures
Today (5pm unless stated): Cardiff v West Brom, Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Everton v Fulham, Hull v Stoke (7:30pm), Manchester City v Arsenal (2:45pm), Newcastle v Southampton, West Ham v Sunderland
Tomorrow: Aston Villa v Manchester United (3:30pm), Norwich v Swansea (3:30pm), Tottenham v Liverpool (6pm)
English Premier
League table
P W D L F A Pts
Arsenal 15 11 2 2 30 11 35
Liverpool 15 9 3 3 34 18 30
Chelsea 15 9 3 3 30 17 30
Man City 15 9 2 4 41 15 29
Everton 15 7 7 1 23 14 28
Tottenham 15 8 3 4 15 16 27
Newcastle 15 8 2 5 20 21 26
Southampton 15 6 5 4 19 14 23
Man Utd 15 6 4 5 22 19 22
Swansea 15 5 4 6 21 20 19
Aston Villa 15 5 4 6 16 18 19
Hull 15 5 3 7 13 19 18
Stoke 15 4 5 6 15 20 17
Norwich 15 5 2 8 14 28 17
West Brom 15 3 6 6 17 21 15
Cardiff 15 3 5 7 11 22 14
West Ham 15 3 4 8 13 19 13
Fulham 15 4 1 10 14 26 13
Crystal Palace 15 4 1 10 10 22 13
Sunderland 15 2 2 11 12 30 8 — AFP.
Online Reporter