Scolari loath to dismiss Arsenal challenge
Saturday 29 November 2008
e-mail
Print
Digg
Save
Luiz Felipe Scolari has guided Chelsea to top of the Premier League (©Getty Images)
Photos/Wallpapers »
Should Arsenal FC lose to London rivals Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, Arsène Wenger's team would be 13 points adrift of their opponents at the Premier League summit and by many people's standards, out of contention for the title.
Title talk
Not according to Blues manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, however. The Brazilian believes that such a gap at this stage of the season is not insurmountable and that it would be foolish to rule the Gunners out. "Last season Chelsea were nine points behind United at the halfway point and even if you're 15 points clear with five games to go, you're not champions," said Scolari. "Here in England you can never say 'I am champion' before the last game."
'Beautiful football'
Despite five league defeats already this term, and the disruption caused by former Chelsea defender William Gallas being stripped of the captaincy, Scolari knows what type of test Arsenal will present. "His team plays football, so it's difficult to win," he added. "I watched their game against Manchester United [a 2-1 win on 7 November] and it was one of the best games in the Premier League. This game against Chelsea will be like that as well."
Returning trio
While Chelsea will be without the suspended Didier Drogba and injured trio Franco Di Santo, Juliano Belletti and Ricardo Carvalho, Arsenal could include Emmanuel Adebayor, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri. "They all came through [training] well today," said Wenger. "It's good because we were a bit short experience-wise."
'Vital' game
Wenger knows his team must win on Sunday against one of their direct title rivals to stand any chance of being in with a chance of silverware come the season's end. "We want to get back into it and the only way to get back into it is to win the game on Sunday," he said. "We know that direct confrontations with top teams become vital when you are in our position."
©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.
