Crystal Palace v Arsenal
FA Premiership
Selhurst Park
Saturday, November 6, 2004
Kick-off 5.15pm
REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral)
CRYSTAL PALACE
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal continue their attempts to work that shock from the system at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
A lot has been made of the three games since Arsène Wenger's side saw their 17-month unbeaten run halted at Old Trafford. But it is worth remembering they have not lost, have every chance of reaching the Champions League Knockout Stage with a game to spare and are top of the Premiership table.
The last of those is likely to have changed by the time Arsenal run out at Selhurst Park just before 5.15pm. Chelsea's home game with Everton will have ended and Jose Mourinho's side need just a point to usurp their North London neighbours.
His Arsenal counterpart accepts there have been issues to address and demons to exorcise since their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United but it is all part of the footballing process and the criticism leveled at them has been intensified because of the heights they had previous hit.
"There was a hangover," said the manager. "It was not only anxiety, but disappointment and frustration as well. It takes one or two weeks to get that out of the system. When you have not known defeat for 49 games it hurts you more than if you lose every two weeks.
"It is always like that; you go down and get up slowly again. I feel we are suffering a little bit physically at the moment. We are less sharp. But we have had that before and recovered. We had periods where it did not go so well last year and the year before that. The difference with two years ago is that we lost game after game. This year we are more stable.
"We know we are in a marathon. You always have ups and downs and at the end of the season where you finish depends on how well you deal with these situations. I believe we have the mental strength and quality to come back."
Injuries probably have not helped the situation. Arsenal's treatment tables have got no busier since the 1-1 draw against Panthinaikos on Tuesday but the team is still without Sol Campbell (calf), Edu (calf), Gilberto (vertebrae), Gael Clichy (ankle) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring).
Edu is likely to be back next Saturday, or Tuesday if he is required in the Carling Cup. Campbell is likely to be out for another fortnight.
Palace suddenly seem more of a threat than they did a month ago. They have picked up in recent weeks due to the goal-scoring exploits of Andy Johnson. Wenger is fully aware of the striker's ability but he is also mindful of their providers.
"Palace have turned the corner in a convincing way," he said. "There is Routledge and Kolkka on the other side. But the one guy no one talks about is Michael Hughes. I saw him in a recent game and he was fantastic.
"It is Hughes who finds the wide players between the [opponent's] central defenders and the full back. Then Andy Johnson is always there in the box to finish."
Stopping the providers will be key to winning the game tomorrow and, as Wenger readily admits, any sort of victory will do.
