Gunners must resist Anfield factor
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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William Gallas insists Arsenal FC must be strong in the face of the ardent Liverpool FC crowd when their UEFA Champions League quarter-final concludes at Anfield.
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William Gallas admitted that Arsenal FC must overcome the Anfield factor as well as opponents Liverpool FC in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tomorrow.
Past experience
The Arsenal captain knows better than anybody what lies in store for Arsène Wenger's men having played in the Chelsea FC team defeated by Liverpool in the semi-final of this competition in 2005. Then as now, the Reds earned a first-leg draw in London before subsequently winning 1-0 at a raucous Anfield.
'Have to be strong'
Hence Gallas's warning that Arsenal will "have to be strong" to better opponents who have frustrated the Gunners twice already this week – following up last Wednesday's 1-1 first-leg draw with another 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Saturday, a result that dented Arsenal's title ambitions. "We can do it but we know it will be really, really difficult for us because their supporters will be behind them. We know Anfield and it will be difficult to play there so we have to be strong," said the Frenchman.
Patience
Gallas added that he expected another tight match between the teams, given the tactics Liverpool adopt in Europe and said Arsenal would have to be patient. "They are a different proposition in the Champions League," he said of Rafael Benítez's team. "They are more compact, they open up less and they keep their shape well as they showed [in the first leg]. We will have to be patient but as soon as we get a chance, give everything. We mustn't drop our heads even if we have let in a goal."
Tougher than Milan
While Arsenal went and won 2-0 at AC Milan in the last round, following a goalless home draw, Gallas considers their task now even tougher, given the teams' greater familiarity and the fact Liverpool have an away goal to their name. "Against Milan we pressed them very high and played very quick but against Liverpool that will be difficult because [in England] we play this way every weekend so they will be ready. It's like playing a league game.
'Big fight'
"Against Milan it was different, we were able to impose our style of play and I think the Milanese were a bit surprised," he continued. "It will be very, very difficult because they will want to stay in place, it will be up to us to take the game to them. I think all the boys are ready for the big fight because it is a big fight. We have to enjoy it, play our football and try to beat them."
