Confidence is high: Nicklas Bendtner insists
that Arsenal are not worried despite their recent run in the
League.
Arsenal host the defending champions at
the Emirates Stadium and need victory to prevent their season from
unravelling. The Londoners have suffered three league defeats
already, leaving little margin for error, but Bendtner insists they
should not be written off just yet.
"We still believe we can win the title and it will be like that
until the season finishes. We owe that to ourselves," he said. "We
want to win it for everyone. We are very young but we can still
prove people wrong. We shouldn't be written off yet. We're very
strong and we have played well against big teams this season. It
will be no different on Saturday.
"After what happened against Tottenham and Stoke people can get
that impression that things aren't going right but we don't feel
that way ourselves. We are strong and believe we have another
chance tomorrow to show that we are united and can get back to
winning ways."
With the injured Emmanuel Adebayor and suspended Robin van
Persie unavailable, Bendtner will spearhead Arsenal's assault
against the defending champions. Arsene Wenger will choose between
Carlos Vela and Theo Walcott to play alongside Bendtner, although
if the England winger fails to recover from a shoulder injury the
options would be narrowed further.
At just 20 years old it is a lot of responsibility for Bendtner
to shoulder but the Dane is relishing the chance to nail down his
place in the team. "I always feel confident, whoever I play. I'll
play to my strength and the team will play as a unit," he said.
"If we all play well that should be enough. But I want to do the
best I can. If I play I'd like to score. It would be fantastic to
score against Man United. If I can score and help us win the game
then I'll be very happy.
"If you play well, you keep your place so you have to keep
working hard. It's the same for every striker, there's no free pass
in every top club. I love playing for Arsenal."
Mikael Silvestre is the latest player to be added to Arsenal's
casualty list after the defender suffered a broken nose against
Fenerbahce. Wenger must decide whether to gamble on the 31-year-old
defender against his former club while Arsenal captain William
Gallas is struggling with a hamstring problem and is rated
50-50.
Bacary Sagna remains a slight doubt but goalkeeper Manuel
Almunia has recovered from a sickness bug.
