Vieira quietly content with points haul
Patrick Vieira was satisfied with the four points Arsenal picked up against Liverpool and Newcastle over Easter.
After defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea, there were suggestions by some that Ars鑞e Wenger's side would take that faltering form into the Easter games.
Not so. They picked up a 4-2 win at home to Liverpool then on Easter Sunday a 0-0 draw at Newcastle. It was a fine end to a mini-marathon of four games in just nine days.
"We knew from the start it would be a difficult week," he said. "We did not start it very well but we gave a good response against Liverpool and Newcastle.
“我们知道将迎来一周的魔鬼赛程。尽管开始表现不是最好,但在对利物浦以及纽卡斯尔的比赛中我们的确表现出色。”
"We knew they would be hard because they fight for fourth place in the championship. But, in the two games, we took four points and that is fantastic. It is really good for us.
“这两支队伍为争夺第四争取冠军杯名额而战,所以与他们的比赛并不好打。能在这两场比赛拿到四分已经非常不错了。对我们非常有利。”
"We did not play that well at Newcastle. The pitch was quite difficult but we worked really hard for each other. In the end we are quite happy because now only the championship remains and we will fight hard until the end to keep it. It was an important result to us."
“在与纽卡斯尔的比赛中我们表现并不完美。对最终结果我们表示满意,现在我们只剩下联赛冠军了,我们必须拼到最后力保英超冠军。这是我们期待的结果。”
It also sent them seven points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea on Sunday night having played the same number of games.
The Stamford Bridge side failed to make up any points after losing to Aston Villa a day later. They have just five games to bridge the gap.
"We are getting there," said Vieira. "We know it is not over. We don't want to take anything for granted.
“冠军争夺仍在继续,我们不能太想当然。”
"We know the game of football can change really quickly. We know how fragile it is to stay motivated in every single game.
“足球场上变化莫常,必须每场比赛都全力以赴。”
"It was difficult. After the FA Cup and the Champions League matches, we needed to get focused because we were playing well and perhaps we need to find momentum in the games again.
"We know how good we are and we can play fantastic football. But we want to win trophies. When you work hard for seven or eight months like we have we deserve to win something. This is the only trophy left and we are going to fight hard to keep it.
"After these games we have been getting used to playing every few days. But now we are having a day or two days rest.
"We will need to get focused again because the next game is Leeds on Friday. We know how important home games will be now."
[13 April 2004]