Arsenal will assess a foot injury sustained by their influential
captain William Gallas today while the suggestion that the London
side have appeared leggy in a cluttered mid-season was given
credence last night by their full-back Gaël Clichy.
The French left-back admitted that the Gunners had lacked their
customary focus from the outset at Portsmouth on Boxing Day and
that their vim and vigour has been sapped by an onerous schedule
which saw them frustrated at Fratton Park and allowed Manchester
United to take their place at the top of the Premier League. Gallas
was injured towards the end of the goalless stalemate after being
clattered by Sol Campbell and will undergo further fitness tests
today ahead of tomorrow's trip to Everton.
Manchester United, who play at West Ham earlier in the day, could
be four points clear by the time Arséne Wenger's team kick-off on
Merseyside. "We should have won on Wednesday," said Clichy. "But we
didn't play in the right spirit. We missed two good opportunities
early on and that showed we weren't focused enough at the
start.
"This a tough period and people get tired, but we know what we have
to do and if we pass the ball quickly we win. If we don't we're not
the same, and we're a bit disappointed with the way we played at
Portsmouth. If you don't start as you have to then the game becomes
difficult.
"But we've got a lot of players back from injury and the boss has
the possibility to rest and rotate players who need it. Personally,
I don't want a rest. I'm fine. It's a pleasure to play. Even if we
are a bit tired, Everton are tired as well."
