Arsenal's Dein asks, Crisis? What crisis?
By Mark Ogden
Wednesday December 1, 2004
The Guardian
David Dein yesterday denied any crisis at Highbury, despite the concerns aired by some of the club's players.
"We are not even one-third of the way through the season - there's a long way to go yet," Arsenal's vice-chairman said on the eve of the quarter-final with Manchester United. "Just because we've lost two games, we haven't given up at all. Far from being in crisis we have probably the strongest squad I have ever seen at the club."
Dein indicated that Arsenal would look to the rich crop of youngsters who will perform at Old Trafford tonight rather than major signings in next month's transfer window.
"Throwing money at the problem, with one star after another, does not necessarily solve it because you kill the other stars."
Sir Alex Ferguson suggested any public peacemaking with Arsène Wenger is unlikely tonight."Will I shake his hand?" United's manager said. "Well, you will have to pay for a ticket to see that. Maybe the press should all pay money to charity."
But Ferguson is confident tonight's game will go off peacefully. "I've no concerns about any ill feeling between the sides, but it will obviously be competitive."
The Italian forward Giuseppe Rossi and the Spanish centre back Gerard Pique are set to make their first starts for United.
