Wenger under pressure as Liverpool clash looms

Arsenal to play the Reds in FA Cup with 5-1 thrashing fresh in memory.

LONDON:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope his side prove themselves when they host Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Chasing a first trophy since their 2005 success in the FA Cup, Arsenal will not be short on motivation against a Liverpool side who thrashed them 5-1 when the teams met last weekend.

Brendan Rodgers’s side smashed four goals past Wenger’s men inside the opening 20 minutes of their game at Anfield as Arsenal were ruthlessly toppled from the league summit. Arsenal recovered to draw 0-0 at home to Manchester United in mid-week, but Wenger admitted afterwards that his players have been left “nervous” after their chastening experience at Anfield.

Nevertheless, the London club prevailed 2-0 when the sides met at the Emirates Stadium in November and Wenger is confident that his players will be determined to restore pride after their capitulation seven days ago.

“These guys are winners. When they lose in that way, believe me, they are hurt,” said the Frenchman. “When you can put things right, you want an opportunity to do that and we have an opportunity.”

Danish centre-back Daniel Agger will hope to start after making his return from a calf injury as a substitute at Fulham, with Kolo Toure’s place potentially at risk after some high-profile blunders in recent matches.

Full-back Glen Johnson is more likely to feature in next weekend’s home game with Swansea City, however, after a spell on the sidelines with ankle and groin problems.

Arsenal have doubts over Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla, who is ill, but French holding player Mathieu Flamini is in line to return following a three-match suspension.

Martinez looking forward to reunion

Meanwhile, Everton manager Roberto Martinez admits renewing acquaintances with Swansea interim boss Garry Monk will add an extra dimension to Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round clash against his former club at Goodison Park.

They were team-mates at Swansea for a couple of seasons before Martinez left the South Wales club in 2006 to end his playing career with Chester City.

Martinez subsequently took over as Swansea manager in February 2007 and the Spaniard acknowledged how Monk, as his captain, helped him lay the foundation for his early managerial success at the Liberty Stadium.

Everton will hand a debut to Ivory Coast striker Lacina Traore, who joined the Toffees on loan from AS Monaco last month but has been recovering from a hamstring injury.

Swansea will give a late fitness test to Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) but Spain striker Michu is unlikely to be risked as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2014.

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