ARSENE WENGER denies Arsenal can’t
cope with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba
Flying high: Didier Drogba has tormented Arsenal
for years, and could do the same this weekend
ARSENE WENGER says anyone who claims
Arsenal are intimidated by The Drog are barking up the wrong
tree.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has never lost to the Gunners and
has 12 goals in as many games, with nine wins and three draws.
Yet Wenger is adamant his team will not be bullied by him at
Stamford Bridge tomorrow. The Arsenal boss said: “Drogba is a
complete striker, which is why he has scored goals against many
teams.
“We should not make an obsession out of one Chelsea player
because they have a few who can score goals.
Often steamrollered in the transfer market by Chelsea’s muscle,
Arsenal have suffered a similar fate on the pitch in recent duels
with their London rivals. Arsenal have won only two of 14 games
since Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 and it
looked like men against boys last season, when Carlo Ancelotti’s
team won home and away on their way to the title.
But Wenger retaliated: ‘What, for you, is physical strength? How
can you explain Spain won the World Cup and Barcelona beat Chelsea
in the Champions League?
‘Football is not only down to physique. It’s down to
intelligence, technique, mobility. There is not one way. That’s
what makes it interesting.
‘Did Didier Drogba score last week against Manchester City? No.
He played against Kolo Toure and when Toure played here you said
Toure did not have the strength to handle him. So is he suddenly
stronger when he joins City?
‘History does not win you games. If we turn up with a great
performance, I am convinced we will beat them.
‘Are Chelsea a good team? Yes, but we can beat a good team. It
is easier to play them when they have lost two games than two weeks
ago, that is for sure. Chelsea were dumped out of the Carling Cup
by Newcastle and then lost to City last Saturday in the league.
Wenger added: “Every defeat makes you just a fraction
smaller.”
