SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013 Arsenal test mettle at slow-starting United LONDON: Buoyant Premier League pace-set- “Absolutely not. They have had a bit of a eighth place. “It is time to start putting our League knockout phase for the first time after ters Arsenal will look to deal a potentially rough start, but they have overcome that foot on the pedal and motor on. We have to a 5-2 win over CSKA Moscow, Manchester crushing blow to Manchester United’s slow- now I think,” said the Welshman, who took his do that if we want to remain in contention to City visit Sunderland tomorrow. Manuel burning title defense when they visit Old tally for the season to 11 goals with a headed win the league. “Arsenal are in a good vein of Pellegrini’s men climbed to fifth place in the Trafford for a seismic showdown tomorrow. winner at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. form. They are the team to catch. We have to league table after demolishing Norwich City Arsenal’s momentum appeared to be dwin- “They have had a few good results in the make sure we are right and ready for the chal- 7-0 last weekend and French midfielder Samir dling after they lost consecutive home games league and will be getting their confidence lenge.” Chelsea and Liverpool will both Nasri believes that the 2012 champions are to Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, but they back up, but we are really confident our- expect to eat away at Arsenal’s five-point lead finally clicking into gear. “In two games we roared back to defeat Liverpool 2-0 in the selves. Our away record has been really good, on Saturday, when Jose Mourinho’s side host have scored 12 goals, so now we focus on league last weekend before becoming the so hopefully we can continue building on West Bromwich Albion and the Merseyside Sunderland,” he said. “Since the start of the first English team to win away to Dortmund in that.” United saw a run of four consecutive club welcome Fulham to Anfield. season we have struggled a little bit away, the Champions League on Wednesday. wins come to an end in a 0-0 draw away to Mourinho has declared that Eden Hazard but now we are starting to show the real face Having won eight and drawn one of their Real Sociedad on Tuesday, but they are seek- will return to his squad after the Belgian of Manchester City.” nine league games since losing to Aston Villa ing to prolong a sequence of eight matches attacking midfielder was left out for Chelsea’s Sunderland are five points adrift of safety on the season’s opening day, they travel to without defeat in all competitions. David 3-0 win over Schalke in mid-week after after losing 1-0 at Hull City in their last outing, Manchester knowing that victory would leave Moyes’s side are also determined to improve reportedly missing a training session. but new manager Gus Poyet saw his side set them 11 points clear of the champions after on a dismal record in matches against their Liverpool, meanwhile, can once again call up a League Cup quarter-final against 11 matches of the campaign. United striker fellow title contenders this season, having upon England right-back Glen Johnson after Chelsea with a 2-1 win over high-flying Wayne Rooney poured scorn on Arsenal’s taken just one point from previous encoun- he missed the defeat at Arsenal due to an Southampton on Wednesday. Southampton, championship credentials this week, saying ters with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester infection in his jaw. “Glen Johnson will be fit,” who had Jay Rodriguez, Adam Lallana and that their recent title challenges had “faded City. “I don’t think we’ve shown ourselves this said manager Brendan Rodgers. “He’s fine. Rickie Lambert called up by England on away”, but the London club’s midfielder season on a consistent basis, not just in the He’s trained this week. It was just one of those Thursday, host Hull on Saturday, while fourth- Aaron Ramsey says his side have nothing to big games,” admitted centre-back Rio peculiar things that happened.” place Tottenham Hotspur are at home to fear from the 20-time champions. Ferdinand, whose side begin the weekend in Fresh from reaching the Champions Newcastle United tomorrow. — AFP Rodgers urges Liverpool Eto’o hands Mourinho a selection dilemma to maintain momentum LONDON: Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has handed manager Jose Mourinho a selection dilemma ahead of the London club’s home meeting with West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League today. LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan difficult start to the season, but Rodgers you are under pressure against Liverpool or Eto’o was brought into the starting line-up for the mid-week Rodgers believes that his team will be close feels the Dutchman has done a good job. Manchester United,” he said. “You are Champions League meeting with Schalke in one of six changes as to delivering Champions League football if He added: “He’s done an excellent job under pressure in your home games Mourinho reacted decisively to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at they can continue their form from the there. He’s got great experience, been against the teams who should lose points Newcastle United. Mourinho went public with his criticism of his opening weeks of the season. The Anfield around a long time, at Tottenham, against us. Before (the 4-1 win at) Crystal players, but his actions achieved the right result, with Eto’o scor- club, who host Fulham in the Premier Hamburg and Ajax, and he’s a top manag- Palace, we really felt some pressure; not ing twice in a 3-0 victory that revived spirits ahead of the West League today, were beaten for the second er. “They got to a final of a European com- because of me, but because of the result. Brom encounter. time in the league this season when they petition a few years ago, but he will be lim- We needed points. Centre-back Gary Cahill believes that Eto’o, who is vying for a lost 2-0 at leaders Arsenal last weekend. But ited in terms of the budget that he has, but “We managed to win that game and starting spot with Fernando Torres, is nearing a return to his best with no European football or League Cup he’s brought in some very good players played well and then had Southampton after a slow start to his Chelsea career following a summer move action to contend with, they currently and they’ll be looking to come to us and away (a 2-0 defeat); they are playing well; from Anzhi Makhachkala. “Now Samuel has found his feet, he is reside in third place with 20 points from put on a strong performance away from Man United, now Liverpool. It is not easy.” looking sharp and getting goals for us,” Cahill said. “He took his their first 10 games of the season. And home, which they can do.” The signs Brede Hangeland could return for Fulham second (goal) fantastically and worked hard for the side. He has Rodgers feels that maintaining that pace looked bleak for Jol last weekend when he after struggling with a sciatica problem, but been on this stage many times, so it is great to have him in the will be enough to avoid extending their found himself the target of boos after his forward Hugo Rodallega will be out for up squad. “Samuel set the tempo with the first goal and after that I exile from the Champions League into a side conceded three first-half goals against to six weeks with a groin injury. Sascha felt we were in control. He took his second goal like we have seen him do it over the years. It was a great finish. fifth season. Manchester United at Craven Cottage. Riether will also be missing after the FA “He has got nothing to prove, but as a player you are always Ahead of the visit of the Cottagers, However, an improved second half-display imposed a retrospective three-match ban proving something to yourself. He has come to the Premier Rodgers has been boosted by the availabili- diluted the complaints and the Dutchman on the full-back after video evidence League for the first time and he wants to perform.” Frank ty of Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho, says that he has no cause for concern revealed he had stamped on United’s Lampard was one of the players left out following the Newcastle who came off the bench at the Emirates ahead of the trip to Anfield. “I don’t think Adnan Januzaj. — AFP defeat, but the veteran midfielder believes his manager got his Stadium following a shoulder injury, as well team selection right. “When you’re longer in the tooth, you realize as Glen Johnson, who missed that game you have to take defeats and blips and bad performances on the through illness. The four teams below them chin and come back quickly from them,” said the England mid- Today’s are all within a point, but Rodgers feels his fielder. “There’s no point in sulking too long. It’s a case of getting side are on the right track. “If you look at matches on TV over Newcastle. We’re still in a healthy position in the league. We where we’re at, if you’re averaging two need to learn from those kind of games and react.