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.