Wenger has ‘belief’ but crunch time comes early

TS ELIOT called April ‘the cruellest month’ in his epic poem The Wasteland, and for Arsenal’s long-suffering fans, Easter has usually been when their club’s challenge for honours comes to an end.

Last season it came a little earlier, with a two-week period around the beginning of March that saw the Gunners lose the Carling Cup final, crash out of the Champions League and FA Cup and lose ground in the Premier League title race. This season, however, make-or-break time seems to have arrived far earlier, with the coming week likely to prove crucial in shaping Arsenal’s progress.

First up comes the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates today, with Kenny Dalglish’s side hoping to emulate or improve on last April’s controversial 1-1 draw.

Then on Wednesday Arsenal travel to Udinese for the second leg of their Champions League qualifier, with a single-goal lead protecting them from possible exclusion from Europe’s premier competition, before heading to Old Trafford for the ultimate test next week.

Against this backdrop, Arsene Wenger faces growing unrest from supporters who are concerned about the talent drain from London N5, as well as an injury crisis and further action against him from UEFA.

Yet it was a defiant Wenger who came out fighting at yesterday’s press conference, maintaining he had done nothing wrong when he flouted UEFA’s touchline ban by sending messages down to Pat Rice in the dugout. He also said he would have no qualms about playing Samir Nasri, who seems destined for to join Manchester City, against the Reds today.

And most contentiously, he said he stood by his transfer record, claiming no club had signed more world class players than he had since arriving at Arsenal in 1996. “I believe I have shown in my 15 years here I am capable of making the right decision for the right players. In that time you have seen more world class players here, or as many, as anywhere else in the world.

“You have to trust my judgment — one day somebody else will make the decisions in my place and we will have to trust him.”

Indeed, as Wenger’s former boss David Dein pointed out earlier, those Arsenal fans clamouring for a change of manager should be careful what they wish for.

There may well be a growing feeling that Wenger is on borrowed time after six years without a trophy, but as Dein asks, who is going to come in and do a better job under the circumstances?

Unable to compete with the wages offered by Chelsea and the Manchester clubs, hamstrung by injuries to key players, most damagingly Jack Wilshere, and with Gervinho and Alex Song suspended after last week’s disappointing start at Newcastle, no wonder the mood at Arsenal is flat.

“We have been swimming against the stream a bit but overall I feel it’s not been the worst start to a season,” Wenger said. “Song and Gervinho are suspended, Diaby and Wilshere are injured, Djourou, Gibbs and Traore will not be available. Apart from that, the morale is strong and the belief is strong.”

Arsenal cannot afford to lose to Liverpool or Udinese ahead of next weekend’s clash with United, which is why Wenger will risk the wrath of fans by picking Nasri.

“He’s in contention against Liverpool. What will happen after I don’t know. When you are a professional, you do your job until the last day at the club. The rest is speculation.”

And there is no shortage of that. Will he sign Scott Parker, a proven Premier League performer, or gamble on Yann M’Vila at Rennes?

“We are looking at a few players but will not give you any names,” was his typically cagey reply.

Alternatively he may go with another of his youngsters, Emmanuel Frimpong, who came through the ranks with Wilshere before suffering a severe knee injury last year. “He is a fighter, with fantastic levels of commitment and uses the ball well. I like him very much.”

More importantly, with Cesc Fabregas finally gone, the captain’s armband and responsibility falls to Robin van Persie. If he stays fit, the Dutchman can score the goals to keep Arsenal among the big boys.

“He loves the club, he’s technical and he’s grown into a leader,” said Wenger.

“If he can have a strong season with no injuries he will be the perfect leader. I am convinced about that. He is world class.”

And on that optimistic note he leaves to prepare for the testing week ahead.