Gunners will give it best shot, says Djourou

JOHAN DJOUROU has called for Arsenal to put the record straight and show the character of champions by beating Premier League leaders Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

The Gunners have seen their own title hopes disappear following a run of only one win from the last seven league games.

Arsenal — now facing a battle to secure third place and automatic Champions League qualification ahead of FA Cup finalists Man City – have not won in front of their own fans since beating Stoke 1-0 on February 23.

Swiss defender Djourou, however, believes there is no better time to get back to winning ways than by halting United’s drive towards the title.

“We know our record at home has not been that great lately, because we drew too many games, but we want to put things in order at home,” Djourou said.

“When Arsenal play our game, no-one can stop us so we have to keep going and fight for each other, to give everything, that is where the difference is. We have done well against the big teams at home, and United are a great team — but we just have to show everyone we are better than them.”

A shock defeat in the Carling Cup final at Wembley to Birmingham was swiftly followed by exit from the Champions League against Barcelona in the Nou Camp, before they then lost their FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.

Djourou accepts the team were not able to shake off the disappointment of gifting the Blues a last-minute winner as chances of silverware elsewhere then quickly disappeared.

“We need to assess all the little details that makes a difference, but otherwise the team have tried the best shot they can give,” said Djourou.

“If you look at the mental state of the team, everything changed from when we lost the Carling Cup final, that was a big turning point.

“After we lost the Barcelona game, then at Manchester in the FA Cup, so it was a lot to take.”

Despite the criticism of another season which promised so much failing to deliver, Djourou, 24, insists Arsenal deserve great credit for having mounted any sort of championship challenge.

“People were not expecting us to be that close to the title this season,” he said.

Looking at the bigger picture to be in the Champions League every year is a good achievement because not many teams do that all the time.

Djourou added: “It is normal with a winning mentality to feel disappointed for the team, now we have to bounce back because things are not really settled yet.

Meanwhile Michael Owen believes the pressure Wenger is under at Arsenal merely emphasises the incredible job Alex Ferguson has done at Manchester United.

“Arsene Wenger is one of the best managers to have ever managed in the Premier League,” said Owen.

“He has turned the club around and done fantastically well over the years. It just highlights what our manager has done.

The success he has had here in such a fiercely competitive business such as this is amazing.”