Post by Salem6 on Oct 31, 2003 21:00:40 GMT
FA Premiership, Elland Road
Saturday, November 1, 2003. Kick-off: 3pm
Saturday, November 1, 2003. Kick-off: 3pm
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger will be satisfied if Arsenal do NOT repeat last season's four-star performance at Elland Road tomorrow.
On September 28, 2002, the Frenchman watched from the sidelines as his team produced a scintillating display to outgun Leeds. A few days earlier Arsenal had brought back a handsome 4-0 win from at PSV Eindhoven, but the quality of football they produced in the 4-1 victory over Terry Venables' side was, if anything, slightly better.
Leeds exacted revenge later in the season by winning 3-2 at Highbury. A result that simultaneously kept the Yorkshire side in the Premiership and stopped Arsenal from winning it.
Wenger's team sit in pole position right now after an unbeaten 10-game start to the new campaign. He admits that his side have yet to match the quality of that Elland Road display but, at the same time, they have learned a more effective, discipline way of winning.
"Leeds was the high and the low point of our season last year," he told Arsenal.com.
"When we played over there it was the highest high we reached that season but when we played them at home we definitely lost the championship.
"We have been more realistic than year. We know we have to have a little more cautiousness this year because we are less fluent than we were last year. When you are on a high like we were this time last year, you can forget your basics."
There are no new injuries problems before tomorrow's game. That means Patrick Vieira (thigh), Martin Keown (calf) and Stuart Taylor (shoulder) are still out.
Leeds have a doubt over defender Dominic Matteo but striker Mark Viduka and veteran David Batty should be available - as will Jermaine Pennant. The Arsenal winger is on loan at Elland Road but Wenger has allowed him to play "on principle".
"If I give a player out on loan it is because I think the player can benefit from it and I can benefit from it," the manager said earlier this week.
"When a player signs for Leeds, for example, he is qualified to play for Leeds. I have to accept that if a player plays well against us then that is part of the game."
Leeds are second from bottom and, on top of that, announced record losses this week. The manager is not expecting it to have an influence tomorrow.
"They are in a difficult situation on and off the pitch," he said. "Considering the financial problems they have had, there is a lot of uncertainty there.
"I don't think they have too much influence on the team but it could on the club's mood in general."
Wenger hopes to blacken that mood tomorrow by cajoling another "realistic" performance and another three points from his side.
