Club Focus - Arsenal - Every game a cup final for Wenger as Bentner stakes claim for starting berth
As Arsenal approach the business end of the season, manager Arsene Wenger has declared that: “It will be only 'Cup' games for the rest of the season.” In light of the Carling Cup final defeat, this was not the most encouraging of sentiments, but reaffirms the importance of each and every fixture.
In the wake of Chelsea’s midweek defeat of Manchester United, Arsene Wenger sensed a golden opportunity beckoning for his side. Arsenal host Sunderland on Saturday knowing that Manchester United must travel to Anfield without Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand the following day. With the opportunity to close the gap to a single point come Saturday evening, Wenger’s assertion is intended to warn against complacency as much as it is to inspire.
In the first of many ‘cup’ encounters to come following his statement, Wenger’s men progressed to set up a quarter-final clash with their title rivals by dispatching Leyton Orient with a thumping 5-0 win at the Emirates. Ahead of the match the visitors took heart from the shock result in the Gunners’ previous outing with Orient midfielder, and former Chelsea trainee, Jimmy Smith asserting: “Arsène Wenger will want a reaction from his squad from the final and they will be a bit down because they haven’t won a cup for ages - hopefully we can knock them out of another one.”
Writing in his column for the Telegraph, another Smith, former Gunner Alan, cited the need for Arsenal to hold on to the resentment at their shock cup defeat: “I would recommend that the Arsenal boys hold on to that sick feeling at the pit of their stomachs; remember how they felt as the Birmingham City players danced around Wembley.” Heeding Smudger’s words, the Gunners appeared intent on banishing the painful Wembley memories as they took a stride towards another appearance at the home of football. Yet, with only Tomas Rosicky surviving from Sunday’s starting line up, rather than a reaction, Wenger’s much changed side made a statement.
In the absence of Robin van Persie - who is set to be sidelined for four weeks - Arsenal’s other strikers stepped up to the plate. Marouane Chamakh found the net for the first time since November as he tries to shake off fatigue and a lack of form. The manager was pleased to note: “Now he looks back because even in training he looked a little bit tired. It's good for him that he scored.” Meanwhile Nicklas Bendtner’s neatly taken hat trick provides him with a valid claim for a starting berth at the weekend. The manner of his second was reminiscent of the crucial opener against Ipswich Town in the Carling Cup and his composure in front of goal means he may be given the opportunity to continue his cup heroics when they face Sunderland in what the manager has dubbed their next ‘cup game.’
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