GHOSTS STILL SHADOWING GUNNERS: Winning a trophy after a hiatus of nine years – the 2014 FA Cup – Arsenal looked like heralding on a new era under Arsene Wenger, but the defensive failures and the tendency for the team to choke in the final third has brought a lot of criticism on the Frenchman. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits his team are desperate for a morale-boosting victory as they open their defence of the FA Cup in a repeat of last season's final against Hull at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Having started 2015 in dispiriting style with an error-strewn 2-0 defeat at Southampton, Gunners boss Wenger knows Arsenal have some psychological issues to overcome before they can hope for a more positive second half of the season.
"I cannot fault the attitude of the team, but we were again haunted by the ghost of what we have seen since the start of the season," said Wenger.
"This is not the first time it has happened. We did not defend well enough in the final third, and we paid a heavy price. It is a self-inflicted defeat."
The dramatic 3-2 victory over Hull at Wembley in May, when the Gunners recovered from two goals down to lift the FA Cup and end their nine-year trophy drought, was supposed to herald the start of a new successful era for Wenger's side but they remain troubled by the same inconsistences that have vexed Wenger for so long.
Terry backs Chelsea to recover from Spurs mauling
Blues captain John Terry expects Chelsea to recover from their New Year's day mauling at Tottenham when Watford visit Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
The 5-3 loss at White Hart Lane was as painful as it was unexpected and the visit of a side battling to get out of the Championship should provide an opportunity for Jose Mourinho's shell-shocked players to recover their confidence.
"It's hard to see them [City] claw us back. We were eight points in front and now we're level on points,” said Terry. "It's disappointing to have lost that lead but we said in the dressing room we'll come together, put a run together and hopefully get a lead again."
United face Yeovil aiming to avoid more Cup woes
United manager Louis van Gaal has warned his stars not to underestimate minnows Yeovil as they bid to avoid another humiliation at the hands of lower league opposition in today’s FA Cup third-round tie.
United head to the unglamourous surroundings of tiny Huish Park to launch their challenge to win the competition for the first time since 2004 when they eased to a 3-0 final victory over Millwall.
That is the longest time without an FA Cup win for the club since the 14 years between the 1963 win over Leicester City and the 1977 defeat of Liverpool.
United have reached two finals, two semi-finals and two quarter-finals since 2004 but winning the trophy for a 12th time has proved elusive.
"I had the experience against MK Dons, who are also in League One," said Van Gaal. "You never know in a cup match, you have to win because you're out if you lose. We have to beat Yeovil but every team in England wants to beat Manchester United so it will be difficult.”
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